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V- x-?..
Gf9- l yr^-
®|00 CoWrg Corps (L\Mi |piags.
^ftra iSeries, lxxxyii.
1902.
BERLIN : ASHER & CO,, 13, UNTER DEN LINDEN.
NEW YORK: C. SCRIBNER & CO.; LEYPOLDT & HOLT.
PHILADELPHIA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
SittI0
5:
ED,
1902
rf-*
i
&0
^mntt[is^ (C011IS Cht[}Htr Jlap:
1. THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS' PAGEANT,
RE-EDITED FROM THE EDITION OF THOMAS SHARP, 1825 ;
AND
2. THE WEAVERS' PAGEANT,
RE-EDITED FROM THE MANUSCRIPT OF ROBERT CROO, 1534;
WITH A PLAN OF COVENTRY, AND APPENDIXES
CONTAINING THE CHIEF RECOEDS OF
THE COVENTRY PLAYS.
BY
HARDIN CRAIG, Ph.D.,
IN8TKUCT0R IN ENGLISH IN PRINCETON UNIYBRSITY.
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LONDON :
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
By KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LIMITED,
DRYDEN HOUSE, 43, GERRARD STREET, SOHO, W.
1902
TO
professor |ofen Pa%tos P:anlg.
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123455
\
««tni Sferiei. lxxxvii.
RICHARD CLAY & SONS. LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNGAY.
PREFACE.
The appearance of this volume has been delayed first by the
addition of appendixes not at first contemplated, but on second
thought considered advisable owing to the peculiar value which has
been given Sharp's Dissertation by the destruction of most of his
sources in the burning of the Free Reference Library at Birmingham
in 1879; then* again by finding, when the work was almost com-
pleted, the manuscript of the Weavers' pageant in the possession of
its owners the Clothiers and Broad Weavers' Company of Coventry.
In issuing this book I wish to thank Prof. John Matthews Manly,
to whom I have dedicated the volume without meaning to involve
him in any share of its faults, for invaluable instruction when I
was beginning the study of these plays, and for his kind permission
to print from his text of the Shearmen and Taylors' pageant.
I have also to thank Prof. T. W, Hunt and others of my teachers
and colleagues at Princeton for kindnesses more or less closely
connected with this work. Acknowledgments are due in particular
to Miss M. Dormer Harris, who has been good enough to help
me with the Coventry manuscripts; Mr. Beard, formerly Town
Clerk of Coventry; Mr. Seymour, secretary of the Clothiers and
Broad Weavers' Company, and Mr. Brown, at the Free Public
Library, have been extremely kind, as has been of course, beautifully
and inevitably, Dr. FumivalL
Vll
CONTENTS.
Introduction ...
Thb Shearmen and Taylors' Pageant
The Weavers* Pageant ^
Appendix I. Extracts from Coventry Leet Book
Appendix II. Eecords of the Pageants from Sharp's
Dissertation
Appendix III. Pageants on Special Occasions ...
Appendix IV. Fragments of another Version of the
Weavers* Pageant
vjtLOSSARY ... ... ... ... ... ...
Index of Names and Matters
Pi.OB
ix
1
33
72
82
109
119
123
128
INTRODUCTION.
MANDSCRIPTH AND EDITIONS.
Thomab Sharp's firat jiublication of nisitter relating to the
Coventry pageants was in 1817. The thin volume of 28 +
14 pages, lai^a octavo, of which only 12 copies were issued, haa
the following title-page : T!ie Pageant of the Sheremen and I'aylora,
in Coventry, as performed by them on the fedival of Corpus Chi'i»H;
.together with other pageants, exhibited on oceasion of several royal
visits to that city; and two specimens of ancient loeal poetry.
Coventry — printed by W. Reader, 1817. The text of the pageant
differs but little from that of the better known edition of 1835,
■which was evidently printed from the same transcript. All variations
except iu the spelling of insignificant words have been noted in tlie
text of the pageant in the present volume. The remainder of Sharp's
book is taken from the Leel Book^ and is contained in Appendix III.,
except the two pieces of doggerel which relate to Laurence Saunders,
In 1826 Sharp published his well-known Dissertation on the
Pageants or Dramatic Mysleries, Anciently performed at Coventry,
by the Trading Companies of that City. His book shoAa that he had
before him at that time, besides the Leet Book and the manuscript of
the Shearmen and Taylors' pageant, the accounts of the cappers,
dyers, sraiths, and of Trinity and Corpus Christi Guilds, and other
leas important manuscripts. Sharp's method was the selection of
interesting illustrative details and his object a general presentation
of the subject of pageants and " dramatic mysteries." He drew
for comparison upon almost everything available which concerned
English or continental religious drama, though his chief attention
was to "the vehicle, characters, and dresses of the Actors."
Ho published here a second edition of tlie Shearmen and Taylors'
pageant, and added also sections relating to Hox Tuesday Play, the
3 exhibited on the occasion of royal visits to Coventry, the
' Coventry Corp. MS. A 3.
X INTRODUCTION.
processions on Corpus Christi day and Midsummer's and St. Peter's
eves, and on minstrels and waits. The matters which relate to the
Corpus Christi play are made up for the most part of citations from
the account books to which Sharp had access. They have been
reprinted in Appendix II. of this volume. Sharp's arrangement
has been followed and his own words quoted freely wherever he
seems to possess information not directly derivable from entries
quoted.
In 1836 Sharp edited for the Abbotsford Club The Presentation
in the Temple^ a Pageant^ as origindUy represented by the Corporation
of Weavers in Coventry, The manuscript of this Weavers' pageant
had, he tells us, been unexpectedly discovered in 1832. To it he
prefixed a prefatory notice based upon entries in an apparently
newly-discovered book of accounts of the Weavers' Company. He
follows the same plan as in the Dissertation, and he had gained
further information about the location and ownership of pageant-
houses which he also includes in the preface. His comments here
are also of little value, but all actual information has been included
in Appendix IF.
The Coventry manuscripts which Sharp used for the Dissertation
passed into the Staunton Collection at Longbridge House. There
Halliwell-Phillips in his Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare made
a few additional excerpts from them, which I have also copied into
Appendix II. Later the manuscripts came into the Free Eeference
Library at Birmingham, where in 1879 they were destroyed by fire.
The last Library catalogue issued before the fire, 1875-7, shows a full
list of Manuscfripts relating to Coventry ; this includes, besides those
mentioned above, a good many valuable documents, transcripts, and
collections, but not the Weavers' pageant or account-book. It seems
to have been taken for granted by students of English miracle plays
that the manuscript of the Weavers' pageant was in this collection ;
but Halliwell-Phillips nowhere shows that he knew even of the
existence of a Weavers' pageant and makes no mention of the weavers*
account-book. William Reader's manuscript history of the Guilds
of Coventry, now at the Free Public Library in that city, and other
documents there, enabled me to find out that the Weavers' Company
still exists under the name of the Clothiers and Broad Weavers*
Company. The Manuscript was accordingly found in possession of
Mr. A. Seymour, the secretary of this company. ^ It is a codex on
^ The MS. is to be placed among the Corporation MSS. in St. Mary's Hall.
THE CYCLE. XI
parchment in octavo, consisting of 17 folios, one missing, written by
Kobert Croo in 1534. It is in fair condition, with ancient binding,
boards and leather; the names of the speakers, stage-directions
(which in this play are of great interest), ornamental connecting
lines between verses, are in red ink. Along with this Manuscript
were two loose leaves in what seems to be a sixteenth-century hand,
contemporary with Croo's writing, on paper, torn, illegible in places,
but certainly fragments of a purer and presumably an earlier version
than Croo*s. The account-book used by Sharp (though there was
one there from 1636 to 1735, and others later, and a book of rules
from 31 H. VI.) was not to be discovered. The fire at Birmingham
has made Sharp's books more valuable than they could ever have
been had the manuscripts remained ; it has therefore seemed worth
while, owing to the extent and importance of the information
contained in them, to collect in the appendixes of this volume all
matter relating to the Coventry Corpus Christi play.
Besides Sharp's two editions of the Shearmen and Taylors'
pageant, there is one in William Marriott's Collection of English
Miracle-Plays or Mysteries (Basel, 1838); this is an exact reprint
of Sharp's text. The pageant is also included in the first volume
of Prof. John Matthews Manly's Specimens of the Pre-Shakspearian
Drama (Boston, 1897), where a great deal has been done to rectify
the text and metre. Prof. Manly's edition has been the basis of
the text in this volume, though it has been carefully compared with
the editions of Thomas Sharp. The Weavers' pageant has been
published only once since the Abbotsford Club edition ; that is, in
Anglia, Bd. XIII. N.F., pp. 209-50, under the editorship of Prof.
F. Holthauseu.^ Prof. Holthausen's edition attempts to rectify the
text and metre of the pageant without the aid of the manuscript,
at the time of publication not re-discovered.
THE CYCLE.
The number of Coventry crafts which supported pageants was
smaller than at most places, and combination of crafts and union of
pageants seem to have characterized the movement. The following
act of the Coventry leet was passed in 1446 to determine the order
in which the trading companies should ride in the procession on the
morning of Corpus Christi day ; and it shows the whole number of
companies taken into account to have been 17 : " Pur le ridyng on
^ See also Beiblatt zur Anglian Bd. XIY., p. 65 ff,
Xll INTRODUCTION.
Corpus xpi day and for watche on midsomer even : The furst craft,
fysshers and cokes ; baxters and milners ; bochers ; whittawers and
glovers ; pynners, tylers, and wrights ; skynners ; barkers ; corvysers ;
smythes; wevers; wirdrawers; cardemakers, sadelers, peyntburs,
and masons ; gnrdelers ; tay lours, walkers, and shennan ; deysters ;
drapers; mercers.'' — Leet Book, f. 122. This was doubtless for the
most part an order of precedence already long followed ; it is repeated
in 1447 in this form : Et quod le ruydyng infesto Corporis Ghristi
fiat prout ex antiquo tempore conserverint. The fullers were made a
separate craft in 1447,^ and there were doubtless other changes ; but
the number was never very large.* An order of leet passed in 1449
enumerating the companies {Leet Book, 143 a. ff.) shows a slightly
different list : mercers, drapers, dyers, girdlers, tailors and shearmen,
walkers, wiredrawers, corvisers, smiths, fishmongers, whittawers,
butchers, sadlers, cardmakers, masons, skinners, pinners and tilers,
bakers, barbers, wrights, barkers, cooks. Of course a company
usually included several minor crafts whose occupation was more or
less closely connected. The full list of the smiths' fellowship was
smiths, goldsmiths, pewterers, cutlers, and wiredrawers. Something
of the size and nature of the Jd!ercers' Company can be told from
the following memorandum at the end of their book of accounts
beginning in 1578, quoted by Keader* with the date 1566 : "For as
much as heretofore every one of the company sold generally com-
m6dities belonging to the mystery of mercers, linen-drapers, haber-
dashers, grocers, and salters, the charge of which was such that few
or none could furnish the trade ; in consequence whereof the company
is of late greatly decayed. It is enacted that the company shall be
divided into five parts, viz. : — Mercers, 1. ; linen-drapers, 2. ; haber-
dashers, and all kinds of small silk wares, 3. ; grocers and salters,
4. ; all kinds of hats and caps and trimming thereunto, 5."
The cardmakers, sadlers, and ironmongers, and painters (after
1436), and masons (after 1443) were one company; so also whit-
tawers, glovers, fellmongers, and parchment makers.
Of the companies enumerated above, only ten can be shown to
^ May 3, 1447. It is also enacted that the walkers of this citie shall hens-
furthe be a felishipp of themselfs, and have Hbertie to electe and choose maisters
of their company for the good order of the same and mayntenyng of true
clothyng. — Leet Booky f. 400.
2 W. G. Fretton, Mem. of Fullers* Ouildy Transactions Birm. and Midi.
Inst. 1877, gives it as twenty-three.
* History of the Guilds, one of the valuable and little known MSS. by Wm.
Reader at the Free Public Library, Coventry.
THE CYCLE. Kill
have supported p^eanta ; tlie others were contributory to companies
HO charged, or in a few cases were able to evade the duty altogether,
or for long periods at a time. In the list quoted above from the
Leet Book, t. 122, the fialiers and cocks here contributory to tlie
smiths' pageant; the baxaters and milnere, to the smiths';
butchers, to the wliittawers' ;
& pageant; so did the
contributed to the
, pageant, to which the i
p^eant, as did the i
I
I
^H IB]
wliittawera and glovers supported
tylers and wrights ; the skinners
the barkers supported a
:a contributed ; the smiths had a
the wiredrawers contributed to the
smiths ; the cardmakers, sadlers, painters, and masons had a pageant;
as did the girdlers; and the tailors, walkers and shearmeu; the
diapers ; and the mercora. The dyers seem always to have evaded
the duty of supporting a pageant in spite of several acta of leet ^
designed to make all crafts contribute equally. Only ten pageants
are mentioned in the Leet Book or any other record, and these ten
are mentioned repeatedly.^ Another piece of evidence to ahow that
the pogeante were ten in numher ia found in the fact that, upon the
reception of Queen Margaret in 1456,^ ten pageants are mentioned.
JSow in the Leet Book, ' pageant ' means the vehicle oa which the
plays were acted; and ten vehicles were used. Nine were needed
for the Nine Worthies, and one was left over, and stood within the
gate at the east end of Bablake Church.
It seems then certain that there wore ten Coventry pageants.
There were also ten original wards in the city ; ' namely, Gosford
Street, Jordan Well, Much Park Street, Eayley Lane, Earl Street,
Broad Gate, Smithford Strbet, Spon Street, Cross Cheaping, and
hop Street, A good many stations wliere the play's were acted
mentioned in the records, and these stations seem all to be in
different wards; so it seems probable that the ten pageants were
■wont to be acted at ten stations, one station in each of the ten
■wards. Gosford Street was the first ward in point of precedence.
The act printfld on pagos 7S and 78 meotions the dyara, skinneis, fiah'
mongers, csppera, corviseis, unil batchers na not bearing their due share of the
ehsrgee of maintainiDg the pageiiuts.
' Most of the pageant' houses, too, can be located. Reader places the whtt-
tawera' pageaut-hotiao in Hill Street, and the mercers' nud drapers' in Gosford
Street. The weavers had a pageant- house :d Mill Lane, la did the shearmen
and taylors (see p. 108) aad tbe csppers (p. DB). '
' See Appendix III.
Thie WB3 sametimea iDcreaaed to eleven (once twelve) wards in town
Tepresentatioii caused by the splitting up of one ward or another into two.
XIV INTRODUCTION.
and it is known to have been the first station of the smiths' pageant.^
Jordan Well ward probably had its station at Jordan Well; for
upon the visit of Henry VIII.* a pageant was set at Jordan Well
with nine orders of angels. Much Park Street ward seems to have
had a station at Kew Gate ; Much Park Street end is also mentioned,
but New Gate stood at one end of Much Park Street.* If there
was a station in Bayley Lane ward, it was probably somewhere near
St. MichneFs Church. Earl Street ward had a station at Little Park
Street end, on Earl Street, as there are two mentions of the house
of Kichard Woods, a grocer who lived in Earl Street. Queen
Margaret lodged there and saw the plays, and the smiths' accounts
show an expenditure for ale " at Richard Woodes dur." * Broad
Gate ward probably had a station at Grey Friars' Church ; Henry
VII. saw the pageants there in 1492.^ The most probable place for
a station in Smithford Street ward is the conduit which at the
reception of Queen Margaret was well arrayed and showed four
speeches of four cardinal virtues.^ Spon Street ward had its station
probably at Bablake Gate (St. John's Church). Cross Cheaping
ward had its station certainly at the cross in Cross Cheaping. And
Bishop's Street ward (called also Well Street ward) may have had
a station near the ancient hospital of St. John the Evangelist.
The pageants were few in number as compared to other known
cycles, and each pageant seems to have had a whole group of
subjects. The two which have been preserved and are published
here show this, as do the accounts of the smiths' and cappers'
companies published in Appendix II. This grouping of subjects
probably characterized the whole cycle. In the following table I
have attempted in a general way to restore the cycle. In making
up the list of probable subjects I have been guided on grounds of
general relationship by the York (Beverley) and Towneley Cycles
and the Hereford list of pageants in the Corpus Christi procession ; '^
rather than by Chester or Ludus Coventriae, For reasons which
will appear later only New Testament subjects are considered :
^ See pp. 84-5. ^ See MS. Annals below. ^ See pp. 84-5.
* At the visit of Queen Elizabeth (see MS. Annals below) the smiths'
pageant stood at Little Park Street end ; see also pp. 74 and 84-5.
« Qy, 1493. « See p. 111.
' Rist MSS, Comm, 13th Rep. pt. iv., p. 288.
THE CYCLE.
XV
Subjects.
Crafts.
Contributory and
AflROClATED CRAvre.
Annunciation.
Visit to Elizabeth.
Joseph's Trouble.
Journey to Bethlehem and
Shearmen and Taylors
^
Nativity.
(and walkers until
Shepherds.
1447).
Kings of Cologne.
Flight into Egypt.
Slaughter of Innocents.
Purification.
JVeavers.
Skinners, walkers.
Doctors.
»
Baptism of Christ.
(?)
Temptation.
Raising of Lazarus.
Entry into Jerusalem.
Conspiracy of the Jews.
Bargain with Judas.
Last Supper.
(?)
Agony in the Garden.
Betrayal and Capture.
•
Before High Priest.
Denial.
Before Pilate.
Pilate's Wife.
Before Herod.
Smiths. .
Cooks and fishers, bakers,
Second trial before Pilate.
millers, chandlers, and
Repentance of Judas. ^
wire-drawers.
Way to Calvary.
Parting of Garments.
Crucifixion.
Mortificatio Christi (?).
Pinners and Ncedlers.
Tylers, wrights, cowpers.
Burial.
carpenters ; bowyers
Descent into Hell.
and fletchers.
Setting the Watch.
Resurrection.
Amazement of Soldiers, etc.
Cappers (cardmakers*^
' Painters and masons ;
Peter and John before
un-til 1631).
walkers, skinners.
Tomb (?).
/
joiners, cardmakers.
Appearance to Mary Mag-
dalen.
Appearance to Travellers.^
Appearance to Disciples.
Doubting Thomas.
Ascension.
(?)
Pentecost.
Death and Assumption of
Mary.
Mercers. ^
Cappers.
Appearance of Mary to
Thomas.
Doomsday.
Di-apei*s. ^
^ See page 90,
C. C. PLAYS.
See page 94.
XVI INTRODUCTION.
The subjects of the smiths', cappers', and drapers* pageants can
be told from the records preserved in Sharp ; the pinners' from a
document quoted by him, the rules and orders of the company,
which speak of their pageant called the " Taking down of God from
the Cross." ^ One of the reasons for assigning the Assumption group
of subjects to the mercers is, besides the importance of the subject ^
and the priority of that craft, the fact that when the Princess Mary
came to Coventry in 1525 she saw "the mercers' pageant play being
finely drest in the Cross Cheeping." * This, although a mere agree-
ment of names,* carries some weight when we compare it with
the special exhibitions provided for the entertainment of Margaret,
Edward, and Arthur. Besides this, and more important, is the fact
that the mercers' seems to have been a fraternity in honour of the
Assumption. Their arms, the same as those of the Mercers' Company
in London, which may still be seen painted on a wall in the mercers'
room in St. Mary's Hall, Coventry, are — ^gules, a demy Virgin Mary
with her hair disheveled crowned, rising out and within an orb of
clouds, all proper ; motto, Honai* Deo, St. Mary's Guild, or the
Merchants' Guild, founded in 1340, had annual meetings in St.
Mary's Hall, at the feast of the Assumption. St. Mary's, St. John
Baptist's, St. Katharine's, and Trinity Guild were formally united
in 1392; and they seem, with the Guild of Corpus Christi, always
closely associated and finally united with the amalgamated guild iu
1634, to have been from the beginning in control of the mercers
and drapers.* After the union of guilds there appear in 1539 in
the Corpus Christi accounts^ entries of expenses on Corpus Christi
day and evening which indicate a pageant of the Assumption in the
Corpus Christi procession. The entries are : first, among several
entries for food,^ew?/ bred for tJie apostells vj. d., heifffor the appostles
viij, d, ; then, to the Maine for Mr gloves and icages ij. 8,yfor beryng
the ci'osse and candelsticks the even and the day viij, d., to the Mr, to
offer xij, d,, the Marie to offer j, d,, Katharine and Margaret iiij, d,,
viij, virgyns viij. d., to GaMell for hei*yng the lilly iiij. d,, to James
1 See Appendix II., p. 103.
^ There is every eviaence of a devoted worship of the Virgin at Coventry ;
St. Mary's Hall and the Cathedral were both named in her honour.
^ If this was, as seems probable, a presentation of the regular mercers' play, it
is also possible that in the four pageants set forth in honour of Queen Elizabeth
the regular plays of the crafts were enacted, since nothing is said in the Annals
to indicate that these pageants had anything else set upon them ; see MS,
Annals below.
* M. D. Harris, Life in an Old English Tmcn (Lond. 1898), Chs. 7 and 13.
^ Quoted by Sharp, p. 162 ; Coventry Corp. MS., A. 6.
THE CYCLE. XV 11
and Thomcis of Inde viij. c?., to x, other apostells xx. d. (1541, xij,
torches of wax for tJie apostles). With these entries are also to be
connected the following items from an inventory of jewels 1493 in
the same MS. (f. 53) : a girdull of blue silk haifiest with silver and
gilt toeyng cord and all iiij, unc, et dim., a girdull of rede silk hamest
with silver and gilt weying cord and all vi, unc. Hi, qrt. These last
entries and several others about payments and properties for the
Mary on Corpus Christi day prior to 1534 seem to indicate that the
presentation of the Assumption in the Corpus Christi procession had
been controlled by the Corpus Christi guild even before the union of
the guilds ; but the connection with the mercers' company would not
in any way be affected.
Two other facts are also to be brought into this connection :
The Smiths provided that Herod, the chief character in their
pageant, should ride in the Corpus Christi procession, a circum-
stance which may indicate that other companies did a similar thing.
Then it is to be remembered that the Shearmen and Taylors', as the
guild of the Nativity, presented an appropriate subject. More will
be said about their relation to the fullers later ; at present it may be
noted that their seal, impressions of which are still in existence, was
(according to Fretton) round, about an inch and a half in diameter,
of brass, representing the Virgin Mary seated and crowned with the
infant Christ in her lap, receiving gifts of the three Kings of Cologne.
These two circumstances might offer clues for the determination of
the names of other pageants, if more were known about the Corpus
Christi procession, and more of the patron saints of the different
companies could be determined.
At any rate, we see that, out of ten pageants, the subjects of six
can be told with certainty, and of another, the mercers', with some
probability. This leaves three companies, tanners, whittawers and
giidlers, the subjects of whose pageants are unknown. An examina-
tion of the table will show, however, three important groups of
subjects unprovided for. First, there is John the Baptist. The
popularity of this saint in Coventry was such that it may be taken
as certain that there was a play upon this subject in the Coventry
cycle. What other subjects may have been grouped with it is still
more a matter of guess ; but the four, or some of them, which succeed
it in the list are the more probable. It is perhaps too slight a thread
to connect the tanners with the subject, because their pageant stood
before the Church of St. John the Baptist, and perhaps performed
Xviii Il^TRODUCTION.
the craft play there, when Queen Elizabeth visited the city.
Secondly, the Last Supper is a most probable subject, inasmuch
as no known cycle of plays is without it. It could hardly have been
a paiii of the already over-crowded smiths' pageant, and it would
certainly have been a part of any Corj^us Christi cycle. Then,
finally, there is a group of subjects centering in the Ascension, which
is also of universal occurrence and would hardly have failed to appear
at Coventry.
It will be noticed that this leaves no room for any Old Testament
plays at Coventry, a chamcteristic which would be exceptional. Of
course one of the unknown pageants may have been upon such a
subject ; but one hardly sees in the circumstances how it could have
been. The following explanation may solve the difficulty. The
Coventry plays in existence, except the Doctors' play, evidently grew
up bit by bit with little influence from the outside. The Shearmen
and Taylors' pageant and the first part of the Weavers' pageant, the
Purification, are mosaics of different metres and hands, and show
evidence of having undergone a course of amplification extending
through a long period of time. It is still possible, as we shall see
later, to discover in each of the three stories the traces of an earlier
form, a complete outline, with all essential features, of a very early
play. The peculiarity which may account for the absence of Old
Testament plays is that the prophet plays and prologues in the two
pageants preserved, which are probably the first two in the cycle,
contain the outline of a Processus Prophetwi^m, Isaiah is the
prologue to the Shearmen and Taylors' pageant, and two other
prophets enter at line 332 between the parts of the play.^ There
is no way of identifying these prophets, but the allusions in their
speeches correspond in a rough way to the parts usually given to
Moses, and there is a reference to David (1. 396) and to Habakkuk
(11. 460-2).2 The Weavers' pageant is also introduced by a prophet
play, and here we have to do with Balaam, Jeremiah, and Malachi
(11. 23, 58, 68). Finally, Simeon refers to the Sibyl (L 197) and to
Daniel (11. 204, 244). In other words, those familiar Latin quotations,
ultimately derived from the Augustinian sermon ^ which is the basis
of the Processus Prophetaimniy appear or are alluded to in the two
plays preserved. Besides that other lost plays appear from the
^ See below.
^ Note also the reference to Adam, line 20 ff.
' Sepet, Les prophetes du Christy Paris, 1878.
DU6DALE AND THE MS. ANNALS. XIX
records to have had prologues and prophets.^ It looks very much
as if the Processus Prophetarum had never been developed at
Coventry, so that the prophets did not make their formal speeches
by name as at other places. At York, it became the basis for many
other plays (I-XI), and had enough left over for a prologue to the
Nativity (XII). In the Towneley cycle, there are several Old
Testament plays, some of which may be native to Wakefield and
derived from the prophet-play — the remainder, probably incomplete
as preserved,^ was an independent play. The fifth Chester play
shows the Processus Prophetarum in a transition stage, with the
Balaam and Balak play formed in the midst of it.^ The prophecies
of Octavian and the Sibyl occur in the midst of the Nativity play
(VI), a thing which still further bears out the theory of the origin ;
since Zachariah and Elizabeth, the proper node for the growth of
the Annunciation and the Visit of Mary to Elizabeth, occur in the
regular scheme of the prophet-play before the Sibyl and Caesar
Augustus. There is nothing, then, inconsistent in believing, since
at other places there are such wide differences, that at Coventry the
Old Testament plays never developed at all.
DUGDALE AND THE MANUSCRIPT ANNALS.
Dugdale is the earliest authority for the belief that the Coventry
Corpus Christi play told the story of both Old and New Testaments.
In order to understand his error it is necessary to consider first a
reference to the plays in several more or less trustworthy lists of
Coventry mayors with annals, some of them still in manuscript.
The annals have some bearing on the plays in general, so it is well to
transcribe all of the references which they contain to the Corpus
Christi play.
There are at least four of these books of annals still to be found
in manuscript. Two, A. 26 and A. 43, are among the Corporation
Manuscripts at Coventry. Neither is of very great age, and both
contain pretty much the same matter. A. 26 has more references to
pageants, and it, with Harl. 6388, have been used as a basis for the
^ Adam and Eve and probably other Old Testament characters were in the
cappers* pageant and would appear always in the Descent into Hell ; what use
was made of the three patriarchs in Doomsday is more puzzling. See Appendix II. ,
where the three patriarchs, Jacob's twelve sons ana the Children of Isiael are
seen to have been represented at the reception of Prince Edward.
^ Towneley Plays, p. 64.
' See J. M. Manly, Specimens Pre-Shak, Dramttf vol. i., introduction, p.
xxvii ff.
XX INTRODUCTION.
following collation. There are two also at the British Museum,
Harl. 6388, and an octavo manuscript, presented by Mr. Joseph
Gibbs, 11346 Pint. CXLII. A., which is of no great value as regards
the pageants. HarL 6388 was written by Humfrey Wanley, and
bears the date Dec. 17th, 1690. He says: "This book was taken
out of manuscripts, the one written by Mr. Cristofer Owen Mayor
of this citty which contains the charter of Walter de Coventre con-
cerning the commons etc, to Godfrey Leg Mayor 1637, the other
beginning at the 36 mayor of this citty and continued by several
hands and lately by Edmund Palmer late of this citty. Counsellor,
till Mr. Yardly late Mayor-|' , /.q/^' and another written by Mr. Bed-
ford and collected out of divers others and continued to Mr.
Septimius Bott. And two other collected by Tho. Potter and con-
tinued to Mr. Robert Blake, and another written by Mr. Francis
Barnett, to the first year of Mr. Jelliffs Majoralty, and another written
by Mr. Abraham Astley, and continued to Mr. Sept. Bott, and another
written by Mr. Abraham Boune to Humfrey Wright wick, 1607."
Wanley dates his list one year too late. In Dugdale's Warwickshire
(1656) there is also a list of Mayors of Coventry; in the second
edition, revised by William Thomas (1730), pp. 147-54, it appears with
the following heading, the parts in square brackets being by Thomas :
**I will here subjoin a catalogue (Ex Catal. Majorum penes praefat.
Joh, Hales) of the Mayors thereof [which I have carefully com-
pared with another Manuscript Catalogue of them which is wrought
in a brown leather cover, penes, and with that lately published by
Mr. Heame at the End of his Edition of Fordun's Scotichronicon
which was printed from a Manuscript communicated to him by Mr.
Tho, Jesson, A. M. et Aed. Christi apud Oxon. Cap]." Sharp quotes
MS, Annals and Codex Hales, and there was at least one copy of
annals in the Birmingham Free Reference Library at the time of the
fire, so that Sharp may represent an original. In Poole's Coventry
(London, 1870) there is a list of mayors without annals. Many of
the annals are contradictory in date ; in the following list the dates
are from Dugdale, who seems to be fairly correct : —
S. p. 8 : MS, Ann,, Anno 1416 4. Hen. V. The Pageants and Hox
tuesday invented, wherein the King and Nobles took great delight.
Harl. 6388 : Sir Robert Onley, merchant, Mayor, 1485[4]. At
Whitsontide King Richard the 3d came to Kenilworth and at
Corpus Christi came to Coventre to see the plaies.
DUGDALE AND THE MS. ANNALS. XXI
Gov. Corp. MS., A. 26 : Thos. Bailey, Mayor, 1486. The King
[Henry VII.] came to Coventry to see our plays, and lodged at Rob.
Onely*s house in Sniithford Street before the conduit.^
Corp. MS., A. 26 : John Wigston, Mayor, 1490. This year
was the play of St. Katharine in the Little Park.
Corp. MS., A. 26 : Thomas Churchman, bucklemaker. Mayor,
1492.2 This year the King and Queen came to Kenil worth; from
thence they came to Coventry to see our plays at Corpus Christitide
and gave them great commendation.^ Harl. 6388 : The King and
Queen came to see the playes at the greyfriers and much commended
them. Dugdale : In his Mayoralty K. H. 7. came to see the plays
acted by the Grey Friers, and much commended them.*
Corp. MS., A. 26 : John Dadsbury, Mayor, 1504. In his year
was the play of St Christian^ played in the Little Park.
Harl. 6388: Richard Smith, merchant. Mayor, 1508[7]. He
made the bakers pay to the smiths 13s. 4d. towards prest and
pageants.
Corp. MS., A. 26 : John Strong, mercer, Mayor, 1510[l]. In this
year King Henry [VIII. ] and the Queen came to Coventry. . . .
Then were 3 pageants set forth, one at Jordan Well with 9 orders
of Angells, another at Broad gate with divers beautifull damsells,
another at the Cross Cheeping with a goodly stage play.^
S. p. 11 : MS, Ann., 1519. New Plays at Corpus xpityde
which were greatly commended. S. p. 11 : id. Codex Hales, 1519-
20. In that year was new playes at Corpus Christityd which playes
were greatly commended.^
Corp. MS., A. 26 : Henry Wall, weaver, Mayor, 1526.^ The
Princess Mary came to Coventry and was presented with an 100
marks and a kercher, and see the mercers pageant play being finely
drest in the Cross Cheeping and lay at the Priory.®
S. p. 11 : MS, Annals, 1561. This year was Hox tuesday put
down.
Corp. MS., A. 26 : Edmund Brownell, Mayor, 1567. The Queen
came to this city. The tanners pageant stood at St. Johns Church,
1 In Harl. 6388 and A. 43. ^ Qy^ 1493.
» So A. 43. * So 11364 Plut. CXLII. A.
^ S. St. Crytyan. Both evidently mistakes for St. Katharine.
® All sources have this entrv.
7 S. says that he found nothing in the accounts to corroborate this. The
entries probably refer to the same year. * Dugdale, 1525.
» 11364, Plut. CXLII. A. agrees with this. Harl. 6388 has, the Mercers
(viajors) Pageant teas gallantly trimmed, etc. S. agrees with Harl. 6388.
XXll INTRODUCTION.
the Drapers pageant at the cross, the smiths pageant at Little Park
Street end, and the Weavers pageant at Much Park Street.^
Harl. 6388: Henry Kerwin, mercer, Mayor, 1568[7]. The
Pageants and Hox Tewsday played.
S. p. 12 : MS, Annals, 1575. This year the Pageants or Hox
tuesday that had been laid down 8 years were played again.
Harl. 6388 : Thomas Saunders, butcher. Mayor, 1580[79]. The
pageants laid down.^
The item for the year 1492 gave rise to the impression in Sharp's
mind, and in Dugdale's too in all probability, that there were plays
in Coventry acted by the grey friars. The idea of plays acted by a
religious brotherhood at so late a time, if ever, would probably have
to be given up upon other grounds ; but in this case it is easy to see
that we have to do with a misunderstanding. ** By the grey-friers"
need not mean agency ; but may mean " at the Grey-friars* Church,"
the grey-friers being the common way of indicating the church. At
any rate Wanley says, in Harl. 6388, " to see the playes at the grey-
friers," which, seeing the list of manuscripts from which he compiled,
is more apt to be an ancient reading than the other which Sharp speaks
of as a ** solitary mention in one MS. (not older than the beginning
of Cha. I.'s reign)." Dugdale probably had this entry to start him
wrong, and the manuscript of Litdus Coventriae to confirm the error,
the information gathered from ** old people '' being too vague to bo
definite as to who the actors were. Dugdale, writing of the Gray
Friers of Coventry, says : ^ " Before the suppression of the Monas-
teries, this City was very famous for the Pageants that were played
therein, upon Corpus Christi day; which occasioning very great
confluence of people thither from far and near, was of no small
benefit thereto ; which Pageants being acted with mighty state and
reverence by the Friers of this House, had Theaters for the severall
Scenes, very large and high, placed upon wheels, and drawn to all
the eminent parts of the City, for the better advantage of Spectators :
And contained the story of the [Old and] ^ Xew Testament, composed
into old English Kithme, as appeareth by an antient MS, (In Bibl.
* So A. 43 ; quoted also in S. and in Fordun's Scotichronicon. S. mentions
a charge in the books of the Smiths' Company for painting and gilding many
pageant vehicles on the occasion of the Queen's visit.
2 So 11364 Plut. CXLII. A. aS'. has, again laid down.
* Antiq, of Warwickshire y by Sir William Dugdale, 2nd Ed. rev. etc. by
William Thomas, D.D. London : 1730, vol. L p. 183.
* Not bracketed in first edition (1656). The passages do not differ otherwise
in 1st and 2nd eds.
THB NATIVITY, THE THREB KINGS, AND THE PRESENTATION. XXiii
Cotton, sub effigio Vesp. D. 9 (8).) intituled Ludus Corpaina ChiHstiy
or Ludus Coventriae,
" I have been told by some old people, who in their younger
years were eye witnesses of these Pageants so acted, that the yearly
confluence of people to see that show was extraordinary great, and
yielded no small advantage to this City."
There would certainly have been a station where the pageants
were acted at the Grey Friars Church, and there King Henry VII.
and his Queen saw the pageants, just as Queen Margaret had seen
them at a station in Earl Street. Reference has already been made
to the performance of ** the Mercers pageant play '* in honour of
Princess Mary, and the only other important entry is the one about
the reception of Queen Elizabetli in 1567. It seems possible that
the pageants put forth then had their own plays, or something
connected with them, since no mention is made of any special
pageant.
THE NATIVITY, THB THREE KINGS OP COLOGNE, AND THE
PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.
The Shearmen and Taylors' pageant is made up of two very well
developed plays. The subject of the first is the Annunciation, the
Nativity, and the Shepherds; it ends with line 331. Then comes
a dialogue between three Prophets which belorigs rather to the
succeeding play than to the one before, if one may judge by the very
similar dialogue prefixed to the Weavers' pageant ; since there the
dialogue rehearses the events of the Visit of the Kings which imme-
diately precedes it in the cycle just as this reviews the Shepherds'
play which it follows here. The second play, which begins at
line 475, treats of the Visit of the Kings, the Flight into Egypt,
and the Slaughter of the Innocents. The second is longer and more
elaborately developed than the first, a tiling no doubt resulting from
the evident popularity of its subject at Coventry. Two crafts have
apparently been united and their pageants acted one after another.
Thei*e is no direct evidence for such a union in any of the records ;
but at the very first there may be a trace of it. The Shearmen and
Taylors' Guild, the Guild of the Nativity, called also St. George's
Guild, was established by licence in the reign of Kichard II. In
1392 there is a mention of the "tailour pageant howse", and before
the formation of the Shearmen and Taylors' Guild, the tailors and
the shearmen, whose occupation was not at that time separate from
XXIV INTRODUCTION.
that of the fullers, may each have had a pageant of their own.
More than this, there is reason to connect the shearmen (and fullers),
but not the tailors, in particular with the visit of the Kings ; for
when fulling had become a separate occupation from cloth-shearing,
and the fullers had formed a company of their own, the fullers were
granted in 1439 the privilege of using a common seal with the shear-
men.^ This seal before referred to may perhaps be taken to be the
original property of the shearmen.^ It represented the Virgin Mary
seated and crowned with the infant Christ in her lap, receiving gifts
from the Magi. The inscription in capital letters round the margin,
according to Fretton,^ is, dgillv! cd'e scissor^ fullonii* fra^nita^ gilde
natCutaf cTni de Coventre.
The Shearmen and Taylors' pageant was probably very old at
Coventry, and in its earlier stages was of course very much shorter
and simpler than it is now. Its variety of metres and its mixed
character generally are due to many additions and revisions, made
during the two hundred years or more preceding the final " correction"
by Robert Croo in 1534. It is possible to see in it a very much
earlier stage in the development of pageants than at first sight it
would seem to represent. The substance of the pageant (most of
what is essential to the story and, presumably, oldest) is contained in
the octosyllabic quatrains scattered throughout the play; these
quatrains, it will also be noticed, contain a great many archaic words.
Some of the quatrains are doubtless late, and some of the parts of the
original story are now told in other metres, but in general this is not
the case. The Presentation in the Temple (Weavers' Pageant
(WCo), 11. 1-721), which is also probably an original Coventry play,
shows also the bare outline of a story in quatrains, a fact which bears
further testimony to the existence of an early cycle, or part of a
cycle, in this form.
The Nativity (Shearmen and Taylors' Pageant (STCo), 11. 2-
331) has the following passages in quatrains: 11. 47-54, 55-8(1),
68-99, 168-203, 278-81, 293-6, 303-6, 321-4.
^ W. G. Fretton, Memorials of Fullers* Guild, Coventry^ Birm. and MidL
Inst. Transactions, 1877.
^ The arms of the Shearmen and Taylors* Company, which would be appro-
priate, though they may or may not be the original tailors' arms, are, as given
by Reader : Argent tent royal, between two parUament robes gules, lined ermine,
on a chief azure a lion of England. Crest a holy lamb in glory proper holding a
flag. Supporters, two camels or. Motto : Concordia parvae res cresmiit,
2 Loc, cit, p. 44.
* Scissor seems to have meant shearman, cp. Du Cange, Olos, Med, et It^,
Lai, sub scissor.
THE NATIVITY, THE THREE KINGS, AND THE PRESENTATION. XXV
The Three Kings of Cologne (STCo, 11. 475-900) : 521-4, 529-
32, 540-7, 548-51 (1), 558-73, 582-9, 632-43, 652-5, 670-3,
680-4, 699-7()4 (1), 705-24, 733-44, 793-800, 802-13, 818-21 (1),
826-46, 884-91.
The Presentation in the Temple (WCo, 11. 177-721) : 314-7 (?),
367-70,1 383-6, 387-90 (?), 459-462, 479-82, 506-21,2 546-9,
557-64, 5gl-84, 593-602 (?), 611-4, 615-8 (?), 621-40, 641-4 (1\
657-60, 661-4, 670-3 (]), 695-7, 705-8, 709-12 (?).
The next most significant metre in these plays, though not
necessarily older than the seven-line strophe of the longer speeches
spoken of later, is a more or less successful attempt to conform to
the riming scheme of the familiar eight-line stanza much used in the
Chester Whitsun Plays.^ It rimes aaahaaah, or aaahcccby and has
four accents to the line, except the fourth and eighth, which have
three. Throughout the plays the passages written in Chester metre
offer in general clear readings, and although this metrical scheme is
used to corrupt every other variety of metre used, the passages written
in it seem to be frequently uninterrupted. Moreover it is interesting
to note that many of the most humorous parts of the plays, including
most of the Shepherds' play, some of the Visit of the Kings, and
nearly all of the dove episode in the Presentation in the Temple,
besides a majority of the excrescences of story, the incidents and
inessential speeches, are either in pure or approximate Chest.er metre.
The natural inference is that one of the most thorough redactions
these plays have ever had, and it must be added the only one of any
spirit or excellence, was characterized by the use of the eight-line
stanza, or an approximation to it in the use of the linking rimes.
The passages which are written in this metre, or which show the
influence of it, are :
The Nativity: 11. 17-36, 100-55, 160-7, 204-77, 297-302 (1),
325-^31 (i).
The Three Kings of Cologne: 11. 574-81, 603-9, 611-21 (1),
622-31, 656-704, 725-32, 750-92, 818-25 {?), 847-69, 892-
900 {?).
The Presentation in the Temple: 11. 314-34, 342-66,371-82,
397-478, 481-505, 522-45, 565-80, 585-610,2 641-56, 661-94,
698-721.
' The third metrical form is a seven-line stanza riming ababhcc.^
^ Borrowed from STCo, 47-50. '-^ Manifestly new.
3 Schipper, Eng.Mct, I., § 154. ■* Schipper, loc. cit., § 171.
XXVI INTRODUCTION.
This is of two sorts. The first, rime royal, has five beats to the line,
and is used for the opening speeches of Isaiah (STCo, 11. 1-14),
Herod {id., 11. 486-520), Simeon (WCo, 11. 177-204^ 205-18 (?))
and Anna (id», 11. 219-32).^ The other seven-line stanza has the
same riming scheme, but has usually only four beats to the line.
In both, the rime of the final couplet is continued in the first and
third lines of the succeeding strophe ; three riming lines are thus
thrown together, a circumstance which has no doubt rendered the
metre liable to misunderstanding and corruption. The second variety
of seven-line stanza has been very extensively used iu the Presenta-
tion in the Temple and in the Doctors' Play which succeeds it, and
rather scantily in STCo. It seems to have been corrupted in places
by the Chester metre, which may indicate that it is older in the cycle
than the passages in the Chester form.^ It is noticeable that the
Chester metre seems to make its appearance in the fragments of
another probably earlier version of WCo.^ The parts of the plays
remaining in the seven-line stanza of four beats, though traces of it
no doubt appear at other places, are :
The Nativity : 11. 307-20.
The Three Kings of Cologne : 11. 533-9, 870-83.
The Presentation in the Temple: 11. 233-60, 272-313, 335-41,
550-6.
THE PROPHET PLAYS AND THE DOCTORS* PLAY.
It is impossible to make out anything like a consistent scheme in
the metre of the Prophet play in ST^o (11. 332-474). Prof.
Manly has broken up the long lines in Sharp, doubtless copied from
Croo, since Sharp follows Croo very closely in transcribing WCo,
into the short doggerel lines in which it was probably composed^
The octosyllabic seven-line stanza was the original form of tKe
Prophet play in WCo (11. 1-176) ; but it is doubtful if some of the
speeches of the second prophet (11. 15-18, 46-9 (]), 75-8, 106-9),
who is at first a sort of interlocutor, were ever in the regular strophe.
The corruption which appears at 11. 46-50 is perhaps an attempt to
conform to Ae^Chester strophe?^ This metre makes its unmistakable
"appearance in 11. 110-76; the passage is evidently newer matter,
telling as it does about the wonderful star upon the hill of Wawse,*
^ The fragments show more of it ; see below.
^ See below. ^ See Appendix IV., 11. 46-53.
* See The Three Kings of Cologne, E.E.T.S., Orig. Ser. No. 85, pp. 6 ff, 213 if.
THE PKOPHET PLAYS AND THE DOCTORS* PLAY. XXvii
and rehearsing the events of the Visit of the Kings which it followed
in the cycle. This passage, besides being a parallel to the Prophet
play in STCo, which tells the events of its preceding Shepherds*
play, is also very irregular in metre and falls into the same doggerel
which characterizes the Prophet play in STCo.^ This part and that
play I should take to be from the same hand.
The Doctors* play (WCo, 11. 722-1192) also shows a mixture
of metres. The first three stanzas (11. 722-45) are double quatrains
perhaps composed in imitation of the first eight lines of the York
twelve-line strophe in which the body of the play was comj^osed, if
not originally a part of the parent play. Then comes one suspici-
ously modern sounding seven-line strophe (11. 747-53), followed by
a characteristic comic passage in Chester metre extending to line 815,
where the parallel with the other Doctors' plays begins.^ From
this point the play is in octosyllabic alternately riming stanzas of
four to eight lineSjj based upoh the northern twelve-line strophe,
the hexasyllabic cauda^ having been lengthened throughout to
four feet, except line 964. ' The discourse of the doctors (11. 857-
84) is in the seven-line strophe and is similar in kind to the
Prophet play and other passages earlier in the plays." There are
some metrical irregularities in the recital of the commandments, but
its basis seems to be the northern strophe as is the case with the
body of the play."> This is interesting because the other versions of
the Doctors^ play show still greater irregularity at this point. The
expanded leave-taking scene (11. 1089-1145) is in Chester metre, ^
which also appears in the final dialogue of the doctors (11. 1146-92)
probably originally composed in the seven-line form. ' The importation
of the Doctors* play cannot have been a very recent thing since both
metres, the Chester metre and the seven-line strophe, appear in it. 3
The fact that the Chester metre seems always to be the dis-
rupting, interpolating element has led me to think that the passages
written in it are probably more recent than those written in the
seven-line strophe, a conclusion somewhat strengthened by the fact
that the parts in the latter variety are more dignified, conventional
and pedantic, and therefore probably older. Both metres were,
however, in common use in the fifteenth century, and the statement
that the seven-line stanza is the older would probably be true only of
the bulk of the matter in each form.^
1 See 11. 128-46. 2 g^e t^iow.
' Note the use of the seven-line stanza and the conventional style in the
Pageants on Special Occasions published in Appendix III.
XXVUl INTRODUCTION.
THE POUR PARALLEL VERSIONS OF THE DOCTORS* PLAY.
The Disputation in the Temple (WCo), which begins with line
722, is particularly interesting because the same play occurs with
variations in the York Corpus Christi Cycle ^ XX (Y), in the
Towneley Plays 2 XYIII (T), and in the Chester Whitsun Cycle »
XI (Ch).
This agreement is mentioned by ten Brink,* and is the subject of
a letter by Dr. Chas. Davidson to Modem Language Nofea,^ and of
a chapter in his Stvdies in the English Mystery Plays.^
Dr. A. R. Hohlfeld,7 Dr. Charles Davidson,® and A. W. Pollard,
Esq.,^ agree with ten Brink that the original doctors' play was of
Northumberland origin, and probably grew up at York. It is evident
for many reasons, corruptions, dialect, e/c, that neither Ch nor WCo
could have been the original for Y and T. Moreover, Y in its
present form cannot have been copied ; for in many cases T and one
of the other plays preserve better readings than those of Y. On
the other hand, Y is often nearer the original than T is ; hence an
earlier play than either Y or T, as they now exist, must have been
copied by Ch and WCo. Dr. Hohlfeld ^^ found the facts derived
from a comparison of Y, T and Ch insufficient to indicate definitely
the source of Ch ; but he saw, other agreements between the cycles
taken into consideration, probability of closer kinship between Ch
and T than between Ch and Y. Davidson,ii whose study was
of all four of the texts, was of the opinion that Ch was borrowed
from the Coventry cycle. The questions, then, which a further
study may help to solve are : Is WCo more closely related to Y
or to T] and are, as Dr. Davidson stated, Ch and WCo inter-
dependent 1
The Disputation in the Temple in WCo is much longer and
more detailed in story than is any other version of the play. It
begins (1. 722) with the preparation by Joseph and ]Mary for the
trip to Jerusalem and not with Mary's discovery that Jesus is
' York Mystery Plays, ed. Lucy Toulmin Smith, Oxford, 1885.
2 The Tovmeley Plays, pub. E.E.T.S., Loud. 1897.
' The Chester Plays, Pt. I., pub. E.E.T.S., Lond. 1892; Chester Mysteries^
ed. Thos. Wright for Shak. Soc, 1843-7.
* Hist. Eng. Lit. Eng. Ed. vol. ii. p. 281.
s Vol. vli. p. 92-3. See also id. (A. R. Hohlfeld), pp. 154-5.
6 Doct. Diss. Yale, 1892.
■^ Die altenglischen Kollektiv-misterien, etc., Anglia, vol. xi. pp. 219-310.
8 Loc. cit. p. 281, ^ Tovmeley Plays, Introduction, pp. xv.-xxi.
^^ Kollektiv-mist. loc. cit. pp. 260-7. ^^ Loc. cit. p. 167.
FOUR VERSIONS OF THE DOCTORS' PLAY. Xxix
missing, as do Y and Ch.^ After the preparation for the trip to
Jerusalem and the journey itself (722-814) have been represented
in the play, the parallel with Y and Ch begins with a speech of
Joseph (1. 815) ; the agreement, however, is almost never word for
word. In the following list of correspondences the comment refers
in each case to the agreement last cited :
WCo 817-18, Y 3-4, Ch 219-20.
Y reads, Of solempne stghtis that ice haue sene / In that cite wei'e
ice come froo ; WCo in substantial agreement has. With these solam
syghtys thatt we haue seyne / In yondur tempull that we cam froo ;
Ch perhaps introduces the first of its references to experiences and
dangers of travel in the words, of f early sightes that tee have sene, /
sith tee came the Cttie froe,
WCo 819, Y 5, Ch 221.
„ 820, „ 6.
,, o21— 2, „ 7—8.
„ 823, „ 9, Ch 223, 228.
Ch 221-8, which corresponds to Y 5-12 and WCo 819-26, is very
much confused as to order, etc. On this and similar instances, see
Hohlfeld, Kollektiv-mist loc. cit. pp. 264-5. Y 9, Hamicard I rede we
hye becomes in WCo 823, Then homwarde. Mare,, lett vs goo. Goo is
substituted for the northern word hye^ which the rime cumpany (1. 825)
shows was original. Ch repeats this line, on which see Hohlfeld as
above, where the repetition is accounted for by oral borrowing.
WCo 824-8, Y 10-4, Ch 225-7.
Ch here shows a decided divergence in story. WCo has
expanded the idea in Y that company upon the journey is
desirable, but Ch has gone far in the other direction. Instead of
having Joseph urge Mary to make haste in order that the way
may be shortened with good company, as he does in Y and
WCo, Ch has (11. 225-8), [Maria.] In all t/ie might euer we
may / for dread of wicJced company / lest anie us mete upon the
way, I Homeicard therefore, I red ice hye.
WCo 830-6,
Y 20-6.
„ 837,
„ 37.
„ 840-2,
„ 30-2.
„ 844-8,
„ 40-4.
„ 852,
„ 39.
„ 857-84,
„ 49-72,
T 1-48.
^ On the defect in T, see Holhfeld, Kollektiv-mist, loc. cit. p. 258, and
subsequent references in that article.
XXX INTRODUCTION.
It is liere simply to be observed that the discourse of the doctors
occupies similar places in WCo, Y, and T, and that in Ch a colloquy
of the doctors is implied ; for P?*tmus Doctor says before Jesus has
spoken, Heare our reason Hgld on a row^ / you darkes that be of
great coning ; / ine thinke this cliilde leai*ne our law^ j he tdketh great
tent to our talking. In these passages the other texts show slight
agreements with Y : Ch with confusion in speeches preserves practi-
cally one whole line and parts of others (Y 50, Ch 222 ; Y 49, 65-6,
Ch 233-4, 236) ; WCo bears resemblance to Y all through this
passage, but is in a different metre (WCo 857-8, Y 48, 63 ; WCo
870, Y 53 ; WCo 875-6, Y 63-5 ; WCo 878, Y 69 ; WCo 882, Y
59-60) ; even in the part of the colloquy preserved in T there is at
least one slight agreement (Y 61-2, T 9-10).
WCo 885-94,
Y 73-82,
T 49-57.
WCo 890, and
Y 78, warne;
T 54, tell.
(WCo 899,
Y91,
T65,
Ch 243.)
WCo 900-1,
Y 87-8,
T 61-2,
Ch 233-40.
WCo 902-5,
Y 89-92,
T 63-66,
Ch 241-4.
Y 90, He wenes he kens more than ice knaices ; T 64, he wenys he
kens more than he knaicys ; Ch 242, lie wenes he kennes more than he
knoice^ ; WCo 903, All secrettis surely he thynkith he knois. T, Ch
and WCo here represent evidently the same reading, one which
makes sense too ; but in Y the sense seems somewhat more original
and knawes is perhaps a northern plural.^ WCo 905 dere, Y 92
yltt, T 66 yit, Ch 244 deane. aargy dere (Y 54, WCo 870) is
indicated by alliteration.
WCo 911-7, Y 94-100, T 67-72.
„ 918-21, Y 101-4, ,,73-6, Ch 253-6.
„ 922-34 „ 105-16, „ 77-88.
WCo 932 and T after 86 have the Latin quotation, JiJx ore
infandum, etc.; it does not occur in Y. In WCo 922-34 the
paraphrase is exceedingly free.
WCo 937-56, Y 117-36, T 89-108.^
WCo 957-64, Y 137-44, T 109-16, Ch 273-6.
In Ch it is Jesus who asks for the first commandment ; in Y
and T, the third doctor; in WCo, the first doctor. Ch 140, which
is a part of the first doctor's answer, agrees with Y 140, T 112,
WCo 960, where it is the second line of the question.
^ See, however, York Mist, Plays, p. Ixxii. ^ gg© also Ch 268, 271-2.
FOUR VERSIONS OP THE DOCTORS* PLAY. XXxi
WCo 965-68,
Y 145-8,
T 117-20,
Ch 277-80.
„ 969-70,
„ 155-6,
„ 127-8.
„ 971-2,
„ 151-2,
„ 123-4.
„ 973-4,
„ 159-60,
„ 132-3.
„ 975-6,
„ 169-70,
„ 141-2.
„ 977-84,
„ 143-52.
Before cousidering this important correspondence of WCo and
T, the following minor agreements might be pointed out: Y 171-2,
T 143-4; WCo 985-6, Y 175-6; WCo 989-90, Y 181-2. The
corresponding passages are : WCo 977-84. The thryd heddith the,
in any wex/y / ThaU of thy lahur thow schuldyst restCy / And truly
kepe thy Sabett day, / Thyself e, thi servande and thy best, / The
forthe bydithe the do thy best / Thy fathur and mothur for to
honoiore ; j And when ther goodis are decrest, / With all thy myght
tJwio shvZdist them succure, T 143-52, The thyrd bydys, ^^ where
80 ye go, / That he shall halow the holy day ; jj ffrom bodely warh
ye take youre rest ; / youre household, look the same thay do, / Both
wyfe, chyld, seruande, and beest," // The fourt is then in weyll and
wo II " Thi fader, thi moder, tlwu shall honowre, H not only toith
thi reuerenee, 1 1 Bot in thare nede thou thaym socoure, / And kepe ay
good obedyenceJ* The writer or reviser of WCo was perhaps trying
to make an eight-line strophe which would have prevented a closer
agreement than exists, or, as is more likely, the difference has been
increased by the rewriting of T. In any case, the diversity among
the plays in their recitals of the commandments, and the metrical
regularity and almost entire independence of Y being taken into
consideration, the conclusion is almost unavoidable that WCo and
T preserve here parts of the same original.
WCo 1001-10, Y 193-202, T 181-90, Ch 257-66.
The placing of these speeches in Ch before the recital of the
commandments was certainly accidental, the result of unskilful
borrowing.
WCo 1011-26, Y 203-18, T 191-206.
WCo 1022 and T 202, amend; Y 214 mende.
WCo 1027-40, Y 219-32, T 207-20, Ch 305-16.
The order in which lines of Y and T are reproduced in Ch is :
223,224, 221 and 219, 222; 225 and 226; 231, 230, 229, 232.
Ch omits the idea of hurrying home on account of the lateness of the
hour (Y 227-8) and puts in (Ch 311-2), thait sitteth with yonder
Doctors gay ; / for we haue had of hym great care, WCo follows
C. C. PLAYS. c
ZXXU INTBODUCnOK.
Y and T closely in sense and order of lines except in U. 1037-40,
where the arrangement is that of Ch. This is the most important of
the resemblances between Ch and WCo ; it can be easily seen how
it came about The passages are: Ch 313-6, Mary, tcife^ thou
wottes right well / thcU I must all my travayle teene, / With men of
might I can not mell, / that sittes so gay in furres fyne. WGo
1037-40, Ey ! Mare, ttyff, ye kno ryght tcell^ / Asse I haue tolde you
many a tyme, / With men of myght durst I neyuer mell. / Loo f
dame, hoto the sytt in there furis fyn ! Y 229-32, With men of
myght can I not mell, / Than all my traycale mon I tyne^ j I can
noght with them, this wate thou wele, / They are so gay in furres
fyne. T follows Y. Ch differs from Y and T in its displacement of
genuine lines; but TVCo differs from them only because of the
exigencies of paraphrasing the archaic words in Y 230 (Ch 314).
WCo 1041-64, Y 233-56, T 221-44, (Ch 317-20).
WCo 1043 have reygardid you, Y 235 icUl take rewarde to youy
T 223 will take hede to you. WCo 1044 this wott I well, Y 236
this tmte ye wele, T 224 this wote I weyU, Clary's speech to Jesus
Ch 317-20, follows Y and T in the use of the word deare and in the
idea of the search for Jesus, but differs from them in having no
reference to the distress of Joseph and Mary ; it expresses their joy
at having found him. WCo, on the contrary, uses the word swete,
omits all reference to the search and dwells upon the grief which
Joseph and Mary have felt during the three days of Jesus's absence.
WCo 1065-72, Y 257-64, T 245-52, Ch 221-8.
Y 257 (T 245, WCo 1065) Wherto shulde ye sake m£ soo? does
not appear in Ch, where the stanza begins with (321), Mother, full
oft I tould you till (Y 258), and ends with (324), that must I needes
doe, or I goe, which is a special line composed to go with the three
which had been borrowed. Ch 328, and found to do that they com-
maund, diverges slightly from Y 264 (T 252), To ffonde what is
folowand; WCo 1072, Ya were glade I haue the fonde, uses instead
of the northern word found, attempt, the past participle of find,
discover, which may have been suggested by the former word.
In connection with this passage arises also the question of the
supposed interchange of speeches between Joseph and !Mary. Dr.
Chas. Davidson! says (referring to WCo 1057-64, Y 249-56, T
237-44, Ch 317-28): "Mary addresses Jesus.— Agreement of Y
^ Loe, eit, p. 177. See also Review by Ungemach, Anglia Beiblatty iv.,
pp. 258-9.
FOUR VERSIONS OP THE DOCTORS* PLAY. XXXiii
and W (T). Immaterial changes in W of Co, speech reduced to
four verses of free paraphrase in Ch . . . Jesus replies. — Agreement
among W of Co, Ch, and Y. W (T) adds verses after the manner
of W (T) in the * Harrowing of HelL' Joseph addresses Jesus in Y
and W (T), hut Mary addresses Jesus in W of Co and Ch. This is
a significant difference." Further on, "Ch , , , because of agree-
ment with W of Co in Mary's speech, when Joseph speaks in the
other plays, is without much doubt a borrowing from Coventry before
the days of Eobert Croo, i. e, before 15 — ." This conclusion rests
upon a mistake, as will be seen by an examination of the texts.
T 249-52 is the only case where there is any material diflference in
the plays as to speakers. In Y 261-4, Mary, and not Joseph as
asserted by Dr. Davidson, addresses Jesus. Moreover, Mary's speech
occurs in T in an exactly similar place to the one it has in the other
plays. The mistake was due to the fact that Mary's speech is given
in T to Jesus, who speaks immediately before her.^ The Towneley
editor points out that the speech must have belonged to Mary by
referring to Luke ii (misprinted iii.), 51. These verses are not
extraneous as Dr. Davidson implies, but hold their proper place as
the conclusion of a twelve-line stanza. In WCo Joseph makes his
own speech, but not until 11. 1122-4.
Ch ends at this point ^ and WCo expands into an extensive
leave-taking scene ; some correspondences can be discovered :
WCo 1073-4, Y 273-4, T 261-2.
„ 1081-2, „ 269-70, „ 257-8.
„ 1085-88, „ 271-2, 279-80; „ 259-60, 267-8.
„ 1113-4, „ 275-6, „ 263-4.
„ 1222-4^ „ 267-8, „ 255-6.
There is no parallel in any play for the dialogue of the doctors
with which WCo comes to an end.
Except for T 1-48 and Y 1-73, and T 145-78 and Y 173-90,
Y and T are practically the same throughout. Ch and WCo are
related to them in very different ways. Ch usually corresponds
closely in language and rime, when it agrees at all ; strophes and
verses are often out of their original order ; parts of lines are pieced
together ; and the story, where it is deficient^ is filled out with matter
in many cases peculiar to Ch. It is an imperfect version, just such
^ It must have been spoken by Jesus when the present version of T was
written, for not has been changed to tpell.
2 See Hohlfeld, loc, cU. p. 260.
XXXIV INTRODUCTION.
as would have resiilted from oral transmission. WCo is also corrupt
but in a different way. In story it seldom departs from Y and T
except to interpolate and expand or to paraphrase into later English.
As we have seen, WCo and Ch never coincide in their deviations in
story. The few cases in whicli WCo and Ch have in common read-
ings which differ from Y and T are insufficient to indicate inter-
dependence. Indeed, from agreements in text of WCo with any
other play, very little can usually be told ; so much has WCo been
altered in revision and transmission. This applies also to the relation
of WCo to Y and T, as concerns its derivation from one or the other.
The best piece of evidence, the agreement in the third and fourth
commandments, is in favour of its derivation from T. Several
smaller agreements point in the same direction.^
A fact, which adds to the presumption in flavour of T as the
original of WCo, is that in the Towneley cycle the Doctors' play
stands next after the Purification ; but in the York Cycle the corre-
sponding play came between the Massacre of the Innocents and the
Baptism of Jesus.^ The order of plays in the lost Beverley Cycle
was virtually the same as in York : . . . Fyshers, Symeon. Cowpers,
fleynge to Egippe. Shomakers, children of Israel. Scryvners, dis-
putacion in the temple. Barbours, sent John baptyste, etc.^
In light of the whole matter, therefore, it seems probable that
some Northumbrian nucleus of craft oi* church plays * was in pos-
session of this Doctors' play, and, since the subject was unusually
attractive, the play spread to the south and west. On its way to
Coventry it perhaps fell under the influence of T, or under influence
which also affected T. This was probably also the case in its
journey to Chester ; but there is no reason whatever to think that
the Play of the Doctors passed from Coventry to Chester or that
Ch and WCo in any way interdepend.
^ Hohlfeld, loc. cU. pp. 265-7 ; and Intro. Towneley Plays, pp. xix-xx.
2 If Towneley XVII and XVIII had possibly been combined into one like
Ch and WCo, the play would not have been inordinately long. There is a
gap in the MS. between the plays ; see TovmeUy Plays, p. 185.
' Lansdovm MS, 896, fos. 133, 139-40 ; Scaum'a Beverlac, by Geo. Poulson,
Esq., Lond. 1829, p. 272; the list, taken from Beverlac, has been corrected
from Leach ; see below, note 4.
* See ** Fragments of Liturgical Plays" and the editor's headnote in
Specimens of Pre-Shak. Drama, ed. Dr. J. M. Manly, Boston, 1897, vol. i.
pp. xxvii-xxxvii ; Davidson, loc, cit, pp. 83 ff . ; ten Brink, loc, cit., pp. 281-2.
See also article on the Beverley play by Arthur Leach, Esq., in An Eng.
Miscellany, Presented to Dr, FumiraU in Honour of his Seventy-ffth Birthday
(Oxford, 1901), pp. 205-304.
FRAGMENTS OP ANOTHER VERSION OP THE WEAVERS* PLAY. XXXV
NOTES ON THE FRAGMENTS OF ANOTHER VERSION OF THE WEAVERS*
PLAY.l
Fragment I. is a variant of WCo 11. 1-58 ; Abbotsford Club
print, pp. 31-4. The following are the significant variations and
readings. MS. indicates the principal manuscript, MS. b. the frag-
ments, S. the Abbotsford Club print, H. the edition of Prof. F.
Holthausen, Anglia, JST. F. XIII., 209-50.
1. Ye gret, MS. E! greft (cp. WCo, 1. 864), S. grett—^. With
youre, S. Youre, H. ye, — 3. aspect, MS. reyspecte.—i. frads, MS.
seyng, — 7. MS. Apon the hyll of Wawse, This seems to me to indicate
a later origin of MS. than of MS. b. Croo was probably familiar with
the play, and repeated in line 7 the reference to the Hill of Wawse
from line 115, where it belongs. In that place is an account, derived
from the Legend of the Three Kings, of the appearance of the star of
prophecy upon the Hill of Vans. See The Three Kings of Cologne,
E.E.T.S., Orig. Ser. No. 85, pp. 6 ff., and the Latin version by
John of Hildesheim in the same volume, pp. 213 ff. — 9. makis, MS.
makyth, S. in wyth. No other instance of the plural in s. occurs. —
10. For, in MS., is at the beginning of 1. 9 ; MS. b. has the better
reading. — 15. further-more, MS. Yet further, I pra you for my
laming, — 15-8. In MS. there is a request; in MS. b., a mere pro-
position. — 19. demonstracion, MS. aftur a strange defonnacion. This
is a characteristic mistake on the part of Croo. — 25. Orreetur . . .
Jacob . . . exurge, etc., MS. Orietur . . . Jacobo . . . exsurget, etc, —
32-4. MS. Of this nobiUl prince of soo hi degree, / The wyche of
all metiy shall haue demeneon, / Vndur what maner borne he schuld he,
MS. b. has the better and more metrical reading. — 35. Worthele, MS.
wonderfulle, S. wondcrfuU, corr. emend, by H. ; MS. b. has the better
reading. — 39. MS. Before prognostefide this to be done, — 41. . . con-
sepith aparet, filHum, MS. . . . concipiet pariet filium ; the Latin
is much more correct in MS. — 43. schuld be reysed, MS. spryng;
MS. b. is nearer the original. — 45. MS. vocabitur, better than vocatur
of MS. b. — 46-9. MS. Yett haue I grett marvell, / Hmv that men
schuld tell I Off such strangis bef<yre the fell, / And man heyng here
hut a mortdtl creature. Note that here and in the neighbouring
strophes, which are very obscure in MS., MS. b., though slightly
more archaic, is entirely clear and is metrical. 52. espret, MS. sprete.
Fragment II. offers a variant of WCo, 11. 182-233 circa, S.
* See Appendix IV.
XXXYl INTRODUCTION.
pp. 39-41. It is a portion of the Presentation in the Temple,
heginning with the sixth line of Simeon's* opening soliloquy and
including everything to the entrance and first speech of Anna. The
reply of Simeon is broken off after the fourth line. This is prob-
ably the fourth page of the original :
MS. b. 183, Under man . . . there^ MS. Vndur hus . . . the.
— 184. anceant, MS. /onwcre.— 186, ahowndant hits, MS. From the
hy pales and. — 187. Dovn . . . munddH, MS. Dotcne into this tcale
and meserahull mvndaU, MS. b. has the better reading, whatever
mvndall may mean ; it probably refers to the world. — 188-90. MS.
For the wyche transgression all we ar now mortally / Thatt he/ore
wasse infynite for eyuer to remayne j And now schall take yend he
deyth and crtiell payne. The passages are much at variance ; MS. is
a paraphrase of MS. b. — 191. ded most dolorus, MS. Wyche grevoise
sorro, — 192. hytturle, MS. byttur teyris. — 195. MS. syence; this
probably indicates that sencis is written for siencts, — 196. MS. In
there awturs aperith to hus right manefestly, — 197. Sebbelis, MS.
SebbeUam, a mistake of Croo's which would not have been cor-
rected when once made. — 198. MS. In hart beseke I the. — 202.
This line omitted in MS. — 203-4. MS. The wyche be reydemcion
schall hus all reyles, /At whose cumyng the tru ovncion of Juda
schall seyse. MS. b. has here the more literal translation of the Latin
words usually given to Daniel in the. Processus Propheterum ; ^ these
words also occur in STCo, 11. 6 and 7. — 206. MS. Foi* age draith
me fast apon. 208. from, MS. /ro.-— 209-25. MS. 209-18 shows
a curious abridgment :
Noic, Lorde, ase thaw are iij in won.
Grant me grace, yff thatt thy loyl be,
In my nold age that syght for to see !
Tlien at thy wyll, Lorde, fayne wold I be,
Yff thow soche grace woldist me sende,
To loove tlie, Lorde, with all vmelyte.
And soo of my lyff then to make an ende !
Yett, Lorde, thi gra^e to me now extende.
Suffer me rathur yett to lyve in peyne
Then to dy, or thatt I thatt solam syght haue seyne I
How to account for this is not very easy. At first sight it looks
as if lines 209-18 had been overlooked by Croo in his redaction.
He may simply have composed lines 209-11 from the ordinary
1 See Towneley Plays, VII, 216 f.
FRAGMENTS OP ANOTHER VERSION OP THE WEAVERS' PLAY. XXXVii
jargon of the first part of the play to complete the stanza, taking
up the earlier version again at lines 219-25 (MS. b.), which agree
fairly well with 212-8 (MS.) above. It might have been
accidental, as omissions of lines and even stanzas often occur in
this way. It seems, however, much more probable that Croo was
rewriting the play with a rather free hand, and that he had already
put the substance of lines 209-17 (MS. b.) into the speech of the
first Prophet, lines 61-74 (MS.) ; and since he had used it there^
omitted it here. MS. 61-74 :
Wyche cawsid Isaee to cast up his tees
Toward heyvin with all his inward syght,
Seying, " Good Lord, a/arming thy promes,
Send downe to hus this wonly sun offmyght,
Huse to rey store vnto owre right !
Owt of deserte, from the hard stonej
Reycomfordying thi doghtur dtvylling in Sion / " 67
Also JaramOf thatt wholle mon,
JSeyd in heyvin God schuld make seede,
A greyne off Davith, thatt noio ys cum,
Wyche eyuer in gracys shall spring and speyde
And kepe Juda owt of drede
And also Isaraell sett in surenes,
And lie schall make jugementis of righttcesenes, 74
These lines are probably in place in the prophet play for two
very slight reasons : Because of the use of the names of Isaiah and
Jeremiah, and because of the number of lines. Of the original
manuscript b., we have probably pages 1 and 4. Page 1 has 58
lines, page 4 has 61 lines. The lacuna, judging by MS. a., is about
120 lines. On the other hand, these speeches of Isaiah and JoreniiaU
are very puzzling. It is diflSicult to find a source for them ; there is
nothing in the original Processus Prophetaruni from which they
may be derived. The supposition that Croo sulKstitutod parts of the
original speech of Simeon for earlier and more customary speeches of
Isaiah and Jeremiah would clear up the difficulty. All of this
is on the supposition that MS. b. is earlier than MS. It must be
admitted, however, that almost nothing can be determined for or
against the idea of a greater age for MS. b. from the handwritings.
But it should be remembered that after the preparation of Robert
Croo's codex there would have been no necessity for another
"original"; and MS. b. is to be regarded as the fragments of
a complete version and not as players' copies. Sharp seems
XXXVlll INTRODUCTION.
have found no entries in the account-book which pointed to the
making of another play-book after Croo's or even parts of another.
The agreement of the versions practically ends with the first
strophe of Anna's speech (L 226), and is not very close there.
MS. b. represents, I think, no very early form of the pageant;
but it seems to be somewhat nearer the source (S. Luke ii. 22-39)
in these speeches of Simeon and Anna, than is MS. ; see U. 224-5,
233-6. It may be too much to suppose that 11. 233-43 show any
evidence of having been once in the form of quatrains, in which
I am disposed to think the body of the play was originally com-
posed. They are, at any rate, simpler and more essential to the
play of the Presentation in the Temple than the coiTesponding lines
in MS.
In all respects, except the correctness of the Latin quotations,
MS. b. is better than MS. — spelling, readings, metrical regularity,
strophe-form, sense, and style. It is probably the version which
Robert Croo " translated ", or a transcript of it.
KEY TO MAP.
This section of Bradford's map shows intramural Coventry in 1750.
Stations of pageants, some known, some conjectuiul \v, Introd. xiii-ziv], are,
one in each of the ten wards of the city, beginning from the east of the central
thoroughfare. (1) In Gosford Street. (2) In Jordan Well, a contiimation of
the thoroughfare ; or possibly at the juoction of New Street and Mill4jane, as
a prolongation of New Street, not marked in this map, was anciently called
Corpus Christ! Lane. To the south of the thoroughfare in Much Park Street
on the London Road is (3) New Gate. (4) Little ^ark Street ends in Earl Street.
To the north of the thoroughfare in Bayley Laue.ward is (5) S. MichdeVs
Churchyard [picture of church in map]. In the centre of Ihe dty m*Cro^
Cheaping ward is (6) The Cross [picture in map]. Further north, near Bi8ho|>
Street, is (7) S. John's Hospital [Free School and Library in map]. To the
south of the thoroughfare again in Broad Gate ward is (8) Grey Fnars' Chnrch
[picture of steeple in map]. Continuing the thoroughfare along Smithford
Street we arrive at (9) The Conduit [just legible in map opposite the "Bull"
and "Green Dragon" inns]. Further on, close to Spon Street Gate is (10)
S. John's or Bablake Church [picture in map].
Pageant houses were in Hill Street by Bablake Church, and in Mill Lane,
which runs at right angles to Jordan Well.
C^e ipageant d i^t S^jearmeit mitr ff aj^Iors/
[Dramatis
Isaiah as Prologue (LI. 1-46).
Gabriel ^
Mary
Joseph
i. Angel
i. Pastor
n. Pastor
Hi, POfStor
a. Angel
i. Pro/eta '\ Participants in a
M. Pro/eta \ learned dialogue
Hi. Pro/eta J (LI. 532-474).
In the Annuncia-
tion and the Na-
tivity (LI. 47-
831).
PSBSONAB^
NuTUiitis \
Herod
i. Rex
a. Bex
Hi, Rex
Mary
Angeltis
i. Miles
a. Miles
Joseph
u Woman
ii. Woman
Hi, WomanJ
In the Adoration of
the Kings and
' the Slaughter of
the Innocents (LI.
476-900). ]
[Enter Isaiah as prologue,]
IsAYB. The Sofferent tliatt seithe evere seycrette, (83)
He saue you all and make you parfett and stronge,^
And geve us^ grace yvith his marce forto mete !
For now in grett mesere mankynd ys bownd ;
The sarpent hathe gevin vs soo mortall a wonde
That no creature ys abuU vs forto reyles
Tyll thye right vncion of Jvda dothe seyse. 7
Then schall moche myrthe and joie in-cresse ;
And the right rote in Isaraell sprynge,
Thatt schall bryng forthe the greyne off whollenes ;
And owt of danger he schall vs bryng
In-to thatt reygeon where he ys kyng
Wyche abowe all othur far dothe arbownde,
And thatt cruell Sathau he schall confownde. 14
^ Reprinted from A Dissertation on the Pageants or DratncUic
Mysteries AncierUly Performed at Coventry ... by Thomas Sharp.
Coventry, 1825. In most matters I have followed by permission
the edition of Professor John Matthews Manly in his SpediTvens
of the Pre-Shakspearian Drama, Boston, 1897, vol. i, pp. 120-52.
Uis treatment of lines and strophes has not been altered ; stage-
directions, punctuation, and text but seldom. M. in the notes
indicates this edition ; S., the edition of Thomas Sharp above
refeiTed to. The MS, was destroyed in the burning of the Free
Reference Library at Birmiugham in 1879. Numbers in parentheses
are pp. in S.
* M. Qy. sounde. Cp, II. 222-4. ' S. geveni^, emend, by M.
C. C. PLAYS. B
Isidah prays
God t<> release
mankind
from misery.
Dan. ix. 24.
J»a. xi. 1.
Tlien lioliness
shall flourisli
and Satnn be
coufouuded.
TWO COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAVa
Tliere U a
cmnfort in
Rplte of
Adam's fall.
Ua. Tii. 14.
Where-foro I cwm hero apon tins grownde (84)
To comfordo eyue;"o^ creature off birthe ;
For I, Isaye the profot, hathe fownde
Many swete msLtteiv whereof we ma make myrth
On this same wyse; 19
For, thogh that Adam be demid to deythe
With all his childur, asse Abell and Seythe,
Yett Ecce virgo^ consepeety —
Loo, where a reymede schall ryse ! 23
The cliild of
a viiviii shall
restore us to
grace
and redeem
Adam fh>m
bondage;
the deed shall
soon be done.
Be-holde, a mayde schall conseyve a childe
And gett vs more grace then eyner men had.
And hir meydin-[h]od^ nothing defy lid.
Sche ys deputyd to beare the Sun, Almyghte God.
Loo ! sufferntis, now ma you be glad, 28
For of this meydin all we ma be fayne ;
For Adam, that now lyis in sorrois full sade,
Hir gloreose birth schall roydeme hym ageyn
From bondage and thrall. 32
Now be myrre eyuere mon
For this dede bryflfly in Isaraell schalbe done,
And before the Fathur in trone,
Thatt schall glade vs all 36
Benediction.
More of this matte?' fayne wolde I meve.
But lengur tyme I haue not here for to dwell.
That Lorde that ys marcefuU his marce soo in vs ma
p7'eve
For to sawe owre sollis from the darknes of hell ; 40
And to his blys
He vs bryng,
Asse he ys
Bothe lord and kyng,
And schalbe* eyuerlastyng,
In secula seculoium, amen l^ 46
^ S. eyerue, corr. ly M.
2 The sign for er is used for ir, ri, ar (marce), e (under), as
well as for er and re. ^ Corred.'by'M.,
* So S., M. shall be.
'^ Lines 41-46 as two in S., the first ending rvith kyng.
PAGEANT OP THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS.
[Exit Isaiah; erUer Gabriel to Mary.]
Gaberell. Hayle, Mare, full of grace !
Owre Lord God ys with the ;i
Aboue all wemen that ejner wasse,
Lade, hlesside mote thow be !
Mabb. All-myght Fathur and King of blys.
From all dysscs th^». sane me now !
For inwartlely my spretis trubbuld ys,
Thatt I am amacid and kno nott how.
50
(85) 54
Gaberell. Dred the nothyng, meydin, of this ;
From hey vin a-bowe hyddur am I sent
Of ambassage from that Kyng of blys
Unto the, lade and vtVgin reyue?'ent !
Salutyng the hero asse most exselent,
Whose v/rtu aboue all othur dothe abownde.
Wherefore in the g?*ace schalbe fownde ;
For thow schalt conseyve apon t/ds grownd 62
The Second Pe^-sone of God in trone ;
He wylbe borne of the alone ;
W/t^-owt sin thow schalt hy7?i see.^
Thy grace and thi goodnes wyl neyuer bo gone.
But eyuer to lyve in vtrgeneto. 67
Mabe. I marvell soore how thatt mabc.
Manw^ cu??ipany knev I neyuer yett,
Nor neyuer to do, kasfc I me,
Whyle thatt owre Lord sendith me my wytt. 71
Gaberell. The Wholle Gost in the schall lyght.
And schado thy soil aoo with \irtii
From the Fathur thatt ys on hyght.
These wordis, turtill, the^ be full tru. 75
This chylde that of the schalbe borne
Ys the Second Persone in Trenete ;
He schall saue that wase forlorne
And the fyndis powar dystroie schall he. 79
^ This and the preceding line as one in S.
* The contraction here is for us, and is used to represent the
genitive and the plural throughout. It has been toritten is, th^
customary/ spelling in S. * M. here and throtighotU prints the[y].
Luke i. 26-46.
Salatatiou of
Mary.
She is
troubled.
' Fear not ;
thou sluilt
conceive the
Second
Person of
tlie Trinity.'
* How may
this be P '
Tlie Holy
Ghost shall
light in her.
Her son a
saviour.
TWO COVBNTRY CORPUS GHRI8TI PLATS.
Her kills-
woman
Elixftbeth.
Nothinff
InipoMible
toQod.
Those wordis, lacle, full tru the bene,
And furthur, lade, here in thy noone lonoge
Be-holde Eylesaboth, thy cosyn clene,
The wyche wosse barren and past all age, 83
And now wtt/^ chyld sche hath bene
Syx monethis and more, asse schalbe sene ;
Where-for, discomforde tliQ not. Mare !
For to God onpossibull nothyng mabe. 87
Mare. Kow, and yt be thatt liOrdis wyll (86)
Of my bodde to be borne and forto be,
Hys hy pleysuris forto fuU-fyll
Asse his one hande-mayde I submyt me.. 91
Gaberbll. Now blessid be the tyme sett
That thou wast borne in thy degre !
For now ys the knott surely knytt.
And God conseyvide in Trenete. 95
and fareweu. Now fare- Well, lade off rayghtis most !
Vnto the God-hed I the be-teyche.
Mare. Thatt Lorde the gyde in eyuere cost,
And looly he leyde me and be my leyche ! 99
His hand-
maid.
Gabriel's
blessing
Matt.i. 18- ffcre the angeU depaitythf and Joseff cumyth in and seyth :
25. .
P$eudo*
Matth, X, xi. JosoFP. Mare, my ^vyff soo dere.
How doo ye, dame, and whatt chere
Ys witTi you this tyde %
Mare. Truly, husebonde, I am here
Owre Lordis wyll forto abyde. 104
JosoFP. Whatt ! I troo thatt we be all schent !
Sey, womon ; who hath byn here sith I went.
To rage wyth thee %
Mare. Syr, here was nothur man nor mans ey vin,
•Theraessen- But onlv the sond of owre Lorde God in hey vin. 109
ger of God.' *' *^
JosoFF. Sey not SOO, womon; for schame,leybe!
*Wliohath
been with
tliee ? '
He dis-
believes.
Ye bo wtt/i chyld soo wondurs grett,
Ye nede no more thetoi to tret
Agense all right.
i
PAGEANT OF THB SHEARMEN AND TATLOBS.
For-sothe, this chylde, dame, ys not myne.
Alas, that ejaer with my nynee
I snld see this syght ! 116
Tell me, womon ; whose ys this chyld 1 (87)
Mabe. Kon but youris, husebond soo myld,
And thatt schalbe seyne, [ywis].^
Josopp. But myne 1 alias ! alas ! why sey ye soo 1
Wele-awey ! womon, now may I goo,
Be-gyld as many a-nothur ys. 122
Mare. Na, truly, sir, ye be not be-gylde,
Hot yet with spott of syn I am not defylde ;
Trust yt well, huse-bonde.
Josopp. Huse-bond, in feytlic ! and that acold I
A ! weylle-awey, Josoff, as thow ar olde !
Lyke a fole now ma I stand 128
And truse.^
But, in feyth. Mare, thou art in syn ;
Soo moche ase I haue cheyrischyd the, dame, and
all thi kyn,
Be-hynd my bake to S6rve me thus ! 132
All olde men, insampull take be me, —
How I am be-gylid here may you see ! —
To wed soo yong a chyld.
Now fare-well, Mare, I leyve the here alone, —
[Wo] ^ worthe the, dam, and thy warkis ycheone ! —
For I woll noo-more be be-gylid * 138
For frynd nor fooe.^
Kow of this ded I am soo dull.
And off my lyff I am soo full,
Ko farthur ma I goo.^ 142
[Lies down to sleep; to him enters an angel,]
I. Angbll.* Aryse up, JosofiF, and goo whom ageyne
Vnto Mare, thy wyff, that ys soo* fre.
To comford hir loke that thow bo fayne,
For, Josofi^ a cleyne meydin ys schee : 146
^ Emend, 6y M. ' This and the preceding line as mie in S.
' S. be gylid be, emend, by M.
* S. Amoell j ; so below for angels^ shepherds, Hiigs, knights,
mid women, alteration byll, ^ M. so.
*wliosei8
thiiobUd?'
She declares
her inno*
cenoe.
She 1b false \n
spite of his
Idndness to
Iter and her
kin.
Let all old
men take
example
from him.
He leaves
her.
* Ai*ise» go
home again
unto thy
wife.
TWO COrSNTRT OOBPCB CmUSTI FLATS.
I' • '■
The child
is Jesas/
He will go
home in
liaate.
H^ beg* for-
giveuess ;
he has mis-
named her.
lie mnst go
to Bethleliem.
* I will walk
with you.'
Sche hatli conscyvid wtt/t-owt any trayne
The Sej'cond Person in Trenete ;
Je«U8^ schalbe hys name, sarten,
And all thys world sawe scball lie; (88) 150<
Be not agast.^
JosoFP. Now, Lorde, I tbanke the witA liart full aad,
For of these tythyngis I am soo glad
Thatt* all my care awoy ys cast ;
Wherefore to ^fare I woll in hast. 155
[Returns to Mare,]
A ! Mare, Mare, I knelo full loo ;
Forgeve me, swete wyff, here in this loud !
!Marce, Mare 1 for now I kno
Of youre good gouernance and how yt doth stond. 159
Thogh* thatt I dyd the mys-nam6,
Marco, Mare \ Whyle I leve
"Wyll I neyucr, swet wyff, the greve
In emyst nor in game.^ 163
Mare. Now, thatt ^ Lord in heyvin, sir, he you f or-
gy ve!
And I do for-geve yow in hys name
For euermore.^
JosoPF. Now truly, swete wyff, to you I sey the '
same. 167
But now to Bedlem must I wynde
And scho my-self , soo full of care ;
And 5 I to leyve you, this grett, behynd, —
God wott, the whyle, dame, how you schuld fare. 171
Mare. Na, hardely, husebond, dred ye nothyng ;
For I woll walke with you on the wey.
I trust in God, all-niyghte kyng,
To spede right well in owre jurney. 175
JosoFP. Now I tbanke you, Mare, of youre ^ goodnes
Thatt ^ ye my wordis woll nott blame ;
And syth that to Bedlem we scball vs dresse,
Goo we to-gedur in Goddis wholle name. 179
^ S. Jhu here and throughout,
'^ This aiid the preceding line as one in S.
3 M. That.
So M., S. has Thoght. ^ Qy. Am. ® M. your.
PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 7
[Tliey set out and travel a while.] Luke H. 4-7.
Now to Bedlem liaiie we leyeds three : Tiireeiem^ues
JO f to Bethlehem.
Tlie day ys ny spent, yt drawy th toward nyglit ;
Fayne at your es, dame, I wold that ye schulde be,
For you groue^ all werely, y t semy th in my syght. 183
Mare. God haue marcy, Josoffe, my spowse soo dere; (89) The time
All p?'ofettis herto dothe beyre wyttnes, draws neiir.
The were tyme now draith nere
Thatt^'niy.chyld wolbe borne, wyche ys Kyng
of blis. 187
Vnto sum i>lace, Josoff, hyndly me leyde, « Lead me to
Thatt L moght rest me wtt/i g?-ace in thiB tyde. i may rest.*
The lyght of the Fathur oiier hus both spreyde,
And the grace of my sun wtt^ ys here a-byde ! 191
JosoFP. Loo ! blessid Mare, here schall ye lend, * stay here .-
-Cheff chosyn of owre Lorde and cleynist m degre ;
And I for help to towne woll I wende. i so to the
'■ town for
Ys nott this the bestj dame? whatt sey ye 1 195 »>eip.'
Mare, God haue marce, Josoff, my huse-bond soo
meke !
Am? hartely I pra you, goo now fro me.
Josoff. Thatt schalbe done in hast, Mare soo^ swete !
The comford of the Wliolle Gost leyve I vfith
the. 199 ^
Now to Bedlem streyght woll I wynd
To gett SOU! helpe for Mare soo free.
SvLvi helpe of weihen* God may me send,
Thatt* Mare, full off grace, pleysid ma be. 203
[In another part of the place a shepherd begins to speak.] Luke li. 8-20.
I. Pastor. Now God, that art in Trenete, *mv feiiowa
^ ' uiid my sheep
Thow sawe my fellois and me ! '^^ ^*^'-'
For I kno nott wheyre my scheepe nor the be,
Thys nyght yt ys soo colde. 207
^ M. changes to grone, hut st^gests that it may be for growe.
^ M. That 3 M. so. * M. wemwien.
8
TWO OOVENTRT CORPUS 0HRI8TI PLATS.
He will call
them.
Now ys yt nygh the niyddis of the nyght ;
These wedurs ar darke and dym of lyght>
Thatt of them can hy haue noo syght,
Stahdyng here on this wold.
But now to make there hartis lyght,
Kow wyll I full right
Stand apon this looe,^
And to them cry wtt^ all my myght, —
Full well my voiso the kno :
W7/at hoo ! fellois ! hoo ! hooe ! hoo !
211
217
Another
sliepherd
liemrs and
recognizes
hit voice.
The first
slieplierd
expfaius.
' It is nearly
day;
[Ttoo other shqoherds appear (in the street).]
II. Pastob. Hark, Sym, harke 1 I here owre hrother
on the looe ;
This ys hys woise, right well I knoo ;
There-fore toward hym lett vs goo,
And folio his woise a-right.
See, Sym, se, where he doth stond 1
I am ryght glad we haue hym fond 1
Brotlmr, where hast thow byn soo long.
And hit ys soo cold this nyght ] *
(90)
221
225
I. Pastor. E ! fryndis, ther cam a pyrie of wynd
wtt/i a myst suddenly,
Thatt ^ forth off my weyis went I
And grett hey venes then * made I
And wase full sore afryght.^ 229
Then forto goo wyst I nott whyddur.
But trawellid on this loo hyddur and thyddur ;
I wasse so were of this cold weddur
Thatt nere past wasse my might. 233
III. Pastor. Brethur, now we be past that f ryght,
And hit ys far within the nyght,
Full sono woll spryng the day-lyght.
Hit drawith fuU^nere the tyde. 237
^ This and tlie preceding line as otic in S.
2 S. And till i uyght hit ys soo cold, corr, hy M.
* S. in, corr. by Sl, * S. afrayde, emend, by M.
3 M. That.
PAGEANT OF THE BHEABMBN AND TAYLORS. l^
Here awhyle lett vs rest, let as refresh
ourselves.'
And repast owreself of the best ;
Tyll thatt the sun ryse in the est
Let vs all here abyde. 241
There the schepp&rdis drawys furth there meyte and doth
eyte and drynk ; and asse the drynk, thefynd the star^
and sey thiis :
ILL Pastor. Brethur, loke vp and behold ! He «»« a
Btar, and at
Whatt thyng ys yondur thatt schynith soo oncepruesses
brvcht 1 **»e "t*"^ o'
•^ ° prophecy.
Asse long ase ejner I haue wachid my fold,^
Yett sawe I neyucr soche a syght
In fyld.i 246
A ha ! now ys cum the tyme that old f athurs hath
told,
Thatt in the wynturs nyght soo cold
A chyld of meydyn borne be he wold
In whom all profeciys schalbe fullfyld. 250
I. Pastor. Truth yt ys wttA-owt naye, (91) *Ye«; for it
Soo seyd the profett Isaye, shortest day.*
Thatt a^ chylde schuld be borne of a made soo
bryght
In wentur ny the schortist dey
Or elis in the myddis of the nyght, 255
II. Pastor. Loovid be God, most off myght, Tiianks-
giving.
That owre grace ys to see thatt syght ;
Pray we to hym, ase hit ys right,
Yff thatt his wyll yt be, 259
Thatt ^ we ma haue knoleyge of this syngnefocacion
And why hit aperith on this fassion ;
And eyuer to hym lett vs geve lawdacion.
In yerthe whyle thatt we be. 263
There the dngelis syng " Qlorea in exselsis Deo," ^
III. Pastor. Harke ! the synpj abowe in the clowdis a merry
•^ ° cholrl
clere I
Hard I neyuer of soo myrre a quere.
^ This and the preceding line as one in S,
^ S,hasl, JEmend. 6y M. » M. That.
10
TWO OOVENTBT CORPUS GHRISTI PLATS.
Tlie uliep-
lierd^ recHll
the soug.
Now, gontyll bretliur, draw we iicre
To here there armoiiy.^ 267
I. Pastor. Brothur, royrth and solas ys cnm hus
among ;
For be the swettnes of thev songe,
Goddis Sun ys cxwi, whom we haue lokid for long,
Asse syngnefyith thys star that we do see. 271
II. Pastor. ** Glare , glorea in t36^sU^^ thxit wase
thex s6nge ; .
How sey ye, fellois, seyd the not thus 1 273
I. Pastor. Thatt ys wet seyd ;^ now goo we hence
To worschipe thatt chyld of hy manyffeconce,
And that we ma syng in his presence
** Et in turf a pax omyftibus,** ; 277\
TJiere the KheppAidis syngis **Ase I ovji Eodde,**^ and (92)
Josoff seyth :
JosoFP. Now, Lorde, this noise thai I do here,
\^i\h this grett solemneto,
Gretly amendid hath my chere ;
I trust hy nevis schortly wolbe. 281
Mary an>
iiouiiues tlie
Saviour's
birth.
There the angellis syng ** Gloria in.exseUsis " ageyne.
Mare. A ! Josoff, husebond, cxi?w heddur anon ;
My chylde ys borne that ys Kyng of blys.
JosoFFB. Now welcu7H to me, the Makar of mon,
WitA all the omage thatt I con ;
Thy swete motlife here woll I kys.
286
Warmed by
the breathing
of the beasts.
Mare. A ! Josoff, husebond, my chyld waxith cold,
And we haue noo fyre to warme hym wit/i.
JosoFP. Now in my narmys I schall hym fold,
Kyng of all kyngis be fyld and be fiyth ;
He myght haue had bettur, and hym-selfc* wold.
Then the breylhyng of these bestis to warme
hym with. 292
^ M. arinouye. ^ S. welseycl.
•"' 2%e song (I.) is at the end of the pageant.
* M. hymselfe.
FAGEAN/ Of THB SH£AIilfEN AND !Dl.TLOIIS.
II
Mare. Now, Josoff, my husbond, fel^ heddur my .
chyld,
The Maker off man and hy Kyng of blys.
Josopp. That schalbe done anon, Mare soo my Id,
For the brethyng of these bestis hatli waruiyd
[hym]^ well, i-wys. 29G
[Angels appear to the shepherds,]
I. Anobll. Hyrd-men hynd,
Drede ye nothyng *
Off thys star thatt ye do se ;
For thys same mome
Godis Sun ys borne ^
In Bedlem of a meydirt fre.
II. Angell. Hy you tliyddur in hast ;
Yt ys hys wyll ye schall hym see
Lyinge in a crybbe * of pore rey paste,
Yett of Davithis lyne cnmon ys hoe.
302
(93)
* Fenr no-
thing.
but hasten to
Me him/
306
[The shepherds approach and worship the Babe."]
I. Pastor. Hayle, mayde-modur * and wyff soo myld !
Asse the angell seyd, soo hauo we fonde.
I haue nothyng to present vfi\h th\ chylde
But my pype ; hold, hold, take yt in thy bond |
Where-in moche pleysure thai I haue fond ;
And now, to oonowre thy gloreose byrtho,
Thow schallt yt haue to make the myrthe.
313
a fleeting
to Mary,
and a present
to Jesus ;
he j^ives his
l»i}.e.
II. Pastor. Now, hayle be thow, chyld, and thy
dame !
For in a pore* loggyn here art thow ley do,
Soo the angell seyde and tolde vs thy name ;
Holde, take thow here my hat on thy hedde !
And now off won thyng thow art well sped,
For weddur thow hast noo ncde to complayne.
For wynd, ne sun, hayle, snoo and rayne.
^»Y
* Take my
hat on thy
head!'
320
* Suppl. by M. * This a)id the jrreceding line as one in S.
^ M. cribbe. * M. mothur. ^ S. aporc, corr. hy M.
12 TWO OOVSNTBT CORPUS 0HRI8TI PLATS.
lu. Pastor. Hayle be tiiow, Lorde ouer watur and
landls!
For thy cumyng all we ma make myrtbe.
* Her« are Haiie bere my myttens to pytt on thi bondis,
my inittcmi
to mit ou thy Otbur tieysure baue I non to present tbe wtt^. 324
Marb. Now, berdmen hynd,
For youre comyng ^
She win pnr To my cbyld scball I proe, 327
for ^hy, *f *f * '
Asse bo ys beyvin kyng,
To grant you bis blessyng,^
And to bys blys that ye may wynd
At your last day.^ 331
There the acheppardis gyngith ' offeyne and goth forthe
I'' of the plau ; and the ij ptofeUis cumyth in and eeyth
thus:
Wonderful I. PiJOFETA, NoVoUis, nOVelHs
tidinse I
Of wonderfull marvellys,^
Were by and defuce vnto tbe beryng I
Asse scripture tellis,
Tbese strange novellis
To you I bryng.3 387
II. Pjjopeta. Kow bartely, sir, I desyre to knoo, (94)
Yff bytt wolde pleyse you forto scboo,
Of wbatt maner a tbyng.
The nativity I. PijoPBTA. Were mystocall vnto youre ber-
01 a Ung, " •*
Of the natevete off a kyng. 342
II. Pjjopeta. Of a kyng ] Whence scbuld be cum ?
L PiiOFETA. From thatt reygend ryall and
mighty mancion,
The sede seylesteall and beyvinly vysedome,
The Seycond* Pez-son and Godis one Sun,
For owre sake now ys man be-cuni. 347
This godly spere,
Desendid here ^
^ This and the preceding line as one in S,
2 The song (III.) is at the end of the pageant,
^ Li)ics 335-7 as one in S. * M. Second.
PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS.
13
In-to a v/rgin clere,^
Sche on-defyld ; ^
Be whose warke obskevre
Owre frayle nature
Ys now begilde.*
II. Trofeta. Why, hath sche a chyld 1
I. PizoFETA. E 1 trust hyt well ;
And neuer the las *
Yet ys sche a inayde evin asse sche wasse,
And hir sun the king of Isaraell.
II. PiJOFETA. A wondur-f ull marvell
How thatt raa.be,*
And far dothe exsell
All owre capasete : ^
How thatt the Trenete,
Of soo hy regallete,2
Schuld jonyd be *
Vnto owre mortallete ! ^
355
359
363
bom of a
virgin uu-
deftled.
Truly mar-
vellous 1
367
I. PiJOFBTA. Of his one grett marce,
As ye shall se the exposyssion,^
Throgh whose vmanyte
All Adamw progene *
Reydemyd schalbe owt of perdyssion.
Syth man did offend,
Who schuld amend *
But the seyd mon and no nothur )
For the wyche cawse he
Incarnate wold be ^
And ly ve in mesere asse m&nis one brothur.
II. PiWFBTA. Syr, vnto the Deyite, (95)
I beleve parfettle,^
Onpossibull to be there ys nothyng ;
372
378
Adnm*8
Erogeny shall
B redeemed.
Man mupt
redeem man.
^ M. puts a period here and a comma afUr Sche ; he suggests that
a line is omitted after 351.
^ This and the preceding line as one in S.
' S. be jonyd, emend, hy M.
n
TWO COVBNTEY CORPUS 0HRI8TI PLAYS.
The folly of
doubting.
The Unenge
of Mary.
God may act
oontraiy
to nature ;
consider
Aaron's rod.
How be yt this warke
Vnto nie ys darke ^
In the opperacion or wyrkyng. 384
I. PiJOFBTA. Whatt more reypriff
Ys vnto belyff
Then to be dowtyng 1 2 337
II. P/?OFBTA. Yet dowtis oftymw bathe dereyacion.
I. PizoFBTA. Thatt ys be the mejnes of comenecacion
Of trawthis to haue a dev probacion
Be the same dowts reysouiiig.
II. PiJOFBTA. Then to you this won thyng :
Of whatt nobull and' hy lenage ys schee
Thatt myght ihta vembuU • pnncis mgdur be ] 394
I. Pjiofbta. Ondowtid sche ys own of hy parrage,
Of the howse of Davith and Salamon the sage ;
And won off the same lyne joynid to hir be mareago ;
Of whose try be
We do subset)' be *
This chy[l]dis* lenage.* 400
II. Pjwfbta. And why in thfttt wysse 1 ;
I. PjiOFETA. For yt Wasse the gysse
To conte the paraut on the manys lyne,
And nott on the feymyne/
Amohst vs here in Isaraell. 405
II. PiJOFBTA. Yett can I nott aspy be noo wysse
How thys chylde borne schuldbe wttA-ow[t]^ naturis
pr^judyse.
I. PifOFBTA. Nay, no prejvdyso vnto nature, I dare
well sey ;
For the kyng of nature may
Hawe all at his one wyll.^ 410
Dyd not tJie powar of God
Make Aronis rod
Bey re frute in on day 1 ^ 413
^ This and the preceding line as one in S.
' Lines 386-7 as one in S.
' M. Qy. renable. * S. siibscryve, corr. hy M.
* Corr, hy S. ^ Lines 398-400 as one in S.
^ M. prints feymy[ny]ne. ^ Lines 411-3 as oiu in S.
PAOBANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS.
II. PyjOFBTA. Truth yt ys in-ded.
L P/?OFBTA. Then loke you and rede,
II.- P/JOFETA. A ! I perseyve the sede
Where apon thatt you spake. ^
Yt wasse for owro nede
Thai he frayle nature did take,^
And hifi blod he schuld* schede
Aniens forto make^
For owre transegression ;
Ase yt ys seyd in p?*ofece
Thai of the lyne of Jude ^
Schuld spryng a right Messe,
Be whom all wee
Schall 2 haue reydemcion.^
(96)
417
422
427
The second
prophet now
understands
the plan of '
redemption.
I. PfiOFETA. Sir, now ys the tyme cu?»,
And the date there-of run,
Off his Natevete.
II. P/JOFBTA. Yett I beseke you hartele
Tliai ye wold schoo me how ^
Thutt this strange nowelte
Were broght vnto you.
434
The time is
come.
I. PiJOFEtA. This othur nyght soo cold
Hereby apon a wolde
Scheppardis wachyng there fold,
In the nyght soo far
To them aperid a star,.
And^ eyuer yt drev them nar;
Wyche star the did behold
Bryghter, th^ sey, M folde
Then the sun so clere
In his mydday spere,
And the these tythyngis tolde.
II. PizoFETA. Whatt, seycretly]
I. Pjjofeta. Na, na, hardely ;
The made there-of no conseil ;
^ This and the preceding line as one in S.
2 So M.; S. schalld; Qy. schiilld. » M. And.
440
The shep-
herds have
seen his star.
1000 times
brighter than
the noonday
sun.
445
No secret.
AGEANT OF THB SHKARMBN AND TATLOBS. 17
), schevaleris de uooble posance ! ^
omos,^ companeouys petis egrance ! '
ad dugard trey tus ^ sylance.
Yottur nooble Koie syre ege presance 1 ^ 479 oommands
rsoue ese nou fawis p^wynt ^ dedffer- be sOent,
de frappas;' mayis gardos to to^® patient and
revemtthd in
ICOi-— preeence or
king HtimL
^^ voter Senear to cor ^^ reyuerance ; (98)
r Roie to to puysance.^^
' pase to8 ! je vose cummande,
»tt la grandeaboly vos vmport.^^ 485
stoHs^^ in Jade et Hex IseraeU,
myghttyst conquerowre ^'^that eyuar Herod nwde
. .. lieaven and
on grownd ; ^ ' beu,
i lie thatt made bothe lievin and hell,
ly myghte powar holdith yp ^^I's world
kf Madroke, bothe /^e[m]^s did I con- defeated
Mara and
1^ Madroke,
bryght bronde there bonis I brak on-
ryde worlde on those rappis did wond^. 492
.^ _^ „ ion of the moat perplexiog of the difficulties,
lilliiy neglected to taxe any notea at the time, I
11^ except in one or two cases, to remember to
p peh suggestion belongs. Of course they are not
ijjf adstakes that may appear here. I have printed
jjJMinge except in punctuation." All of the notes
^prv kikM directly from M.
('. ■
fitprsbMy only a carelese farm of e.
* de garder trestous.
Mant; * nnlle.
H non &88e point. ^ Ne se.
W gardez tote.
I l^bfv the indirect object aeeme unnecessary,
Qiaidon : Car il est votre roi tout puissant,
n de Ini (Sheldon suggests loi instead Q^lui).
pmiCt that the line properly ends wUh grand {modify^
ftifming with 484),— diable vos emporte! bein^
imsd pleasantry addressed to the audience,
Ipium in S.
• • ground. ^ So M.
16
TWO COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS.
' In wliat
palace was
' In no raoh
place;
between two
beasts ac-
cording to
prophecy.'
Hah. Hi. 2
(Sept.).
The shep-
herds went
forth re-
joicing.
sing!ng a
Christmas
soqg.
A herald.
For the song ase lowde
Ase eyuer the cowde
Presyng the kyng of IsaraelL 451
II. PiJOFBTA. Yett do I marvell (97)
In whatt pyle ^ or castell
These herdmen dyd hym see. 454
I. Pi?0PBTA. Nothur in hallis nor yett in bowris
Bom wold he not be,
i^other in castellis nor yet in towris
Thai semly were to se ; 458
But att hys Fathurs wyll,
The profeci to fuU-fyll,
Be-twyxt an ox and ^ an as
Je8u«, thi^ kyng, borne he was.
Heyvin he bryng us tyll ! 463
II. PiJOFBTA. S/r, a ! but when these scheppardis^
had seyne hym there,
In-to whatt place did the repeyre 1
I, PiJOPETA. Forthe the went and glad th^ were,
Going thQ did syng ;
Wtt/i myrthe and solas th^ made good chere
For joie of that new tything ; 469
And aftur, asse I hard the[m]* tell.
He rey wardid them full well :
He graunt them hevyn ^^er-in to dwell ;
In ar the gon wttA joie and myrthe.
And there songe hit ys " Neowell."
474
There the ptofcttis gothe furthe and Erod cumyth in, and
th« messenger.
NoNCBOSB.* Faytes pais, dnyis,^ baronys de grande
reynowne I
^ 1817 ed, pallays. ^ Repeated in Af.
' M. slieppardis. * So M.
^ Sheldon siiggests that this is the pi. of O.F. dame, damne,
infitienced by the spelling of some form of Lat. dominus.
^ In his note Prof Manly says : ** In reading this proclamation
I have had the aid of both Prof. Kittredge and Prof» Sheldon.
As this aid, however, was given a year or two ago in the form of a
PAQEAMT OF THB SHEABIIKN AMD TATLOBS.
17
everyiN)dy to
be suent.
Fayis, seneoris, schevaleris de uooble posance ! ^
Bays, gentis homos,^ companeouys petis egrance ! '
Je vos command dugard treytus * sylance.
Payis, tauque vottur nooble Koie syre ege presance 1 ^ 479 oommaiwis
Que nollis^ persone ese non fawis perwynt^ dedffer-
auce,
Nese® harde de frappas;' mayis gardus to to^®
paceance, —
Mayis gardus ^^ voter seneor to cor ^* reyuerance ; (98)
Car elat vottur Eoie to to puysance.^^
Anon de leo,^^ pase tos ! je vose cummande,
E lay Eoie erott la grandeaboly vos vmport.^^ 485
patient and
reverential in
reaeiice or
Herod.
preae
king
Erodb. Qui statis^^ in Jude et Hex Iseraell,
And the myghttyst conquerowre ^^that eyaer
walkidongrownd;W
For I am evyn he thatt made bothe hevin and hell,
And of my myghte powar holdith vp ^^I's world
rownd.
Magog and Madroke, bothe /^e[m]^^ did I con-
fownde,
And wiUi this bryght btonde there bonis I brak on-
sunder,
Thatt all the wyde worlde on those rappis did wonder. 492
Herod made
heaven and
bell.
defeated
Magof^and
Madroke,
pretty lively oral discussion of the most perplexing of the difficulties,
and as I unfortunately neglected to taxe any notes at the time, I
find myself unable, except in one or two casee, to remember to
which of the two each suggestion belongs. Of course they are not
responsible for any mistakes that may appear here. I have printed
the text with no change except in punctuation." All of the notes
upon this passage are taken direcUy/rom M.
^ puissance. ^
' The second o is prdbMy only aeareless/orm of e.
' et grands. * de garder trestous.
' roi seit id present. ' nnlle.
^ Kittredge : ioi non fasse point. ^ Ne se.
' frapper. ^^ gardez tote.
" A preposition More the indirect object seems unnecessary,
^' tote. " Sheldon : Gar il est votre roi tout puissant.
^^ A (=au) nom de lui (Sheldon suggests Ioi instead of\m).
^ Sheldon suggests that the line properly ends unth grand {fnodi/y'
ing Erott arut rhyming with 484),— diable vos emporte! being
merely an unattached pleasantry addressed to the audience.
^' Qui statis is in red in S.
"-J' M. thfkt.. . ground. ^ So M.
C, C. FLAYS.
18
TWO COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLATS.
the caase of
lif^lit and
thunder
and earth-
quakes J
he is prince
of purgatory
aiia captain
ofbeil,
and ooald
annihilate his
enemies by
batting his
eye.
I am the cawse of this grett lyght and thunder ;
Ytt ys throgh my fure that the soche noyse dothe
make.
My feyref uU contenance the clowdis so doth inca77ibur
Tliat oftymw for drede thei-oi the verre yerth
doth quake.
Loke, when I w»'t^ males this bryght brond doth
schake,
All the whole world from the north to f/te sowthe
I ma them dystroie vfiih won worde of my mowthe 1 499
To reycownt vnto you myn innevmerabull substanoe, —
Thatt were to moche for any tong to tell ;
For all the whole Orent ys under myn obbeydeance,
And prynce am I of purgatorre and cheff capten
of hell ;
And those tyraneos tray turs be force ma I compell
Myne enmyis to vanquese and evyn to dust them
dryve,
And vfitJi a twynke of myn iee not won to be lafte
alyve.
506
To loolc at
liim is better
than meat or
drinlc.
Behold my contenance and my colur,
Bryghtur then the sun in the meddis of t?tQ dey.
Where can you haue a more grettur succur
Then to behold my person that jrs soo gayo 1
My fawcun and my fassion, wit/i my gorgis araye, —
He thatt had the grace all-wey ^^er-on to thynke,
Lyve the^ myght all-wey wtt^-owt othur meyte or
drynke.
And thys my tryomfande fame most hylist dothe a-
bownde
Throgh-owt this world in all reygeons abrod,
He resembles Reyscmclyng the fauer of thatt most myght Mahownd :
Mahomet, is f o 7
descended From Jubvtor be desent and cosyn to the grett
from Jupiter " y o
and is a God, (99)
cousin to ' V '
the Deity. ^^(j nauiyd the most reydowiidid kyng^ Eyrodde,
Wyclie thatt all pryncis hath under subjeccion
And all there whole powar vndur my proteccion.
513
520
M. emends to he. Op. II. 686-8.
M. king.
PAGEANT OF THB 8HEABMM ANP TAYLQRS. 1.9
And therefore, my hareode here, callid Calcas, His hemid
. Calcltfts most
Wame thow eyuere^ porte thatt noo schyppis aimouncea
a-ry Ve, marks on
Nor also aleoud stranger throg my realme pas,
But the for there truage do pay markis fyve. 524
Now spede the forth hastele,
For the thatt wyll tlie contrare
Apon a galowse hangid schalbe,
A7ul, be Mahownde, of me the gett noo grace ! 528
NoNcios. Now, lord and mastur, in all the hast caicUas wiu
Thy worethe wyll ytt schall be wroght.
And thy ryall cuntreyis schalbe past
In asse schort tyme ase can be thoght. 532
Ebodb. Now schall owre regeons throgh-owt be socht a search
_ o w o for aliens
In eyuere^ place bothe est and west ; ordered.
Yff any katyffis to me be broght,
Yt schalbe nothyng for there best.
And the whyle thatt I do resst,
Trompettis, Tiallis, and othur armone
Schall bles the wakyug of my maleste. 53^9
• » ■ • .
ffere Erod goth awey and the iij kyngis speykyth in th.fi Matt. ii. M2.
strete, ~
I. Kbx, Now blessid be God of his swet sonde, Tiie first icing
•v-i 1 li 1 1 -r ^ sees the star
For yondur a feyre bryght star I do see !
Now ys he cofifion, vs a-monge,
Asse the profet ^ seyd thatt yt schuld be. d43
A seyd ^ there schuld a babe be borne, and remem-
Comyng of the rote of Jesse, prophecy.
To sawe mankynd that wasse for-lorne ;
And truly Gomen now ys he. 547
Keyuerence ajid worschip to hym woll I do (100)
Asse God and man, thatt all made of noght.
All the profettis acordid and seyd evyn soo,
That witA hys presseos blod mankynd schuld be
boght. " 551
^ Contraction for er. ^ S. profettis, emend, by M.
* S. Aseyd, corr. hyVL, Qy. A seyd = they said.
20
TWO COVBNTBT CORPUS CHR18TI PLATS.
llepniji
tiMt iMminr
Me Um Lord**
fact.
TlMMCOIld
King tiM lort
hb waj.
MMiheaUr
of prophecy.
will worship
UiediUd.
He Bees the
other King,
Tliey coo-
verse.
The third
King is also
lost.
He grant me grace,
Be yonder star tha\> I sce,^
And in-to thatt place
Bryng me ^
Thatt I ma hym worschipe wiVi umellete
And se hys gloreose face.
II. Rex. Owt of my wey I deme thatt I am,
For toocuns of thys cuntrey can I non see ;
Now, God, thatt on yorth madist man.
Send me sum knoleyge where thatt I be !
657
561
Yondur, me thynkc, a feyre, bryght star I see,
The wyche be-tocunyth the byrth of a chyld
Thatt hedur ys cum to make man fre \
He borne of a mayde,^ and sche nothyng defyld. 565
To worschip thatt chyld ys myn in-tent ;
Forth now wyll I take my wey.
I trust sum cumpany God hathe me sent,
For yonder I se a kyng labur on the wey ;
To-warde hym now woll I ryde.
Harke ! cumly kyng, I you pray,
In-to whatt cost wyll ye thys tyde.
Or weddur lyis youre jumey ]
569
573
I. Ebx. To seke a chylde ys myne in-tent
Of whom the profetis hathe meiit ;
The tyme ys cu?7i, now ys he sent,
Be yondur star here ma [you]^ see.
II. Rbx. Sir, I prey you, wit/i your lysence,
To ryde with you vnto his presence ;
To hym wyll I offur frank-in-sence.
For the hed of all Whole Churche schall he be.
III. Rbx. I ryde wandeiyng in veyis wyde, (101)
Ouer montens and dalis ; I wot not where I am.
Now, Kyng off all kyngis, send me soche gyde
Thatt I myght haue knoleyge of thys cuntreys
name.
677
581
585
^ Tliis and the preceding line as one in S.
S. amayde, eorr, by M, ^ Supplied by S.
PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TATLOBS. 21
A ! yondiir I so a syght, be-semyng all afar, wid aiM> sees
The wyche be-tocuns sum nevis, ase I troo ;
Asse me tliynke, a chyld peryng in a stare.
I trust he be cuw that schall defend vs from woo. 589
To kyngis yondur I see, The Kings
And to them woll I ryde^
Forto haue there cmnpane ;
I trust thei wyll me abyde.^ 593
Hayle, cumly kyngis augent ! ^
Good surs, I pray you, wheddCT ar ye menti
I. Rex. To seke a chylde ys owre in-tent,
Wyche be-tocuns yonder star, asse ye ma see. 597
II. Rex. To hym I purpose thys present.
III. Rex. Surs, I pray you, and thatt ryght
vmblee,
Wtt/i you thatt I ma ryde in cumnanc. and ride in
" .f A company.
[1 All.]^ To all-myghte God now prey we
Thatt hys pressiose persone we ma se. 602
Here Erode cumyth in ageyne and the messengere seyth:
Nuncios. Hayle, lorde most off mycht 1 Herod leamg
rr.1 1 . , of the kings
Thy com97iandement ys right ; andth»ir
In-to thy land ys comyn tJiia nyght
iij kyngis and vriUi them a grett cumpany, 606
Erod. Whatt make those kyngis in this cuntrey ?
Koncios. To seke a kyng and a chyld, the sey.
Erode. Of whatt age schuld he bee 1
NoNCios.. Skant twellve deyis old fulle. 610
Erod. And wasse he soo late borne? {^^^)
KoNCios. E ! syr, soo the schode me, thys same dey
in the morne.
Erod. 2^ow, in payne of deyth, bryng them me 'Dringthem
_ ^ before me
befome : on pain of
And there-fore, harrode, now hy the in hast, 614
In all spede thatt thow* were dyght
Or thatt those kyngis the cuntrey be past ;
Loke thow bryng them all iij before my syght ; 617
^ This and the preceding line as one in S.
'^ M. Qy. and gent. ' Suggf^stcd bijli. * M. thou.
death.
22 TWO OOVKNTRT COBPUS CHRI8TI PLATS.
And in Jerusalem^ inquere more of that chyld.
Main ftir* But I wame the that thy wordis be mylde,
qoiriea.' For there must* thow hede and crafte wey[lde]*
How to for-do his powere ; and those iij kyngis shalbe
begild. 621
NoNCios. Lorde, I am redde att youro byddyng
To sarve the ase my lord and kyng ;
For joye there-of, loo, how I spryng
Wiih lyght hart ami fresche gamboldyng
Alofte here on this molde I 626
Ebodb. Then sped the forthe hastely.
And loke thai thow bey re the eyvinly ;
And also I pray the hartely
Thatt thow doo comand me
Bothe to yong and olde.* * 631
[The m€$Hnger goes to the kingi.]
' Kinff Herod NuNCios. Hayle, syr kyngis, in youre degre ;
desiros to ^^
■peak irith Erood, kyng of these cuntreyis wyde,
Desyrith to speyke with you all thre,
And for youre comyng he dothe abyde. 635
I. Rex. Syr, att his wyll we be ryght bayne.
Hy us, brethur, vnto thatt lordis place ;
To speyke with hym we wold be fayne ;
Thatt chyld thatt we seke, he grant us of his
grace I 639
[They go to fferod.]
Nuncios. Hayle, lorde wiUi-owt pere !
These iij kyngis here have we broght
•Do not be Ebodb. Now welcuTw, syr kyngis, all in fere; (103)
^my But of my bryght ble, surs, bassche ye noght I 643
Sir kyngis, ase I vndurstand,
A star hathe gydid you into my land,
Where-in grett harie ^ ye haue fonde
Be reysun of hir beymw bryght. 647
' S. Jerusalen, corr. by M.
'^ S. mast, corr. by M. ^ Emenid, by Af .
* Lines 629-631 as two in S., the first ending with doo.
* M. changes to harting.
PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TATLORS.
23
Wherefore I pray you hartely
The vere truthe thatt ye wold 8e7'tefy,
How long yt ys surely
Syn of that star you had f urst syglit.
I. Ebx. Sir kynge, the vere truthe to sey
And forto schoo you ase hit ys best,
This same ys evin the xij*** dey
Syth yt aperid to vs to be west.^
Erodr Brethur, then ys there no more to sey,
But wtt^ hart and wyll kepe ye your jumey
And cuw jjhom by me this same wey, ^
Of your nevis thatt I myght knoo.
You schall tryomfe in this cuntre
And with grett conquorde bankett wtt/i me,
And thatt chyld myself then woll I see
And honor hym also.
651
655
659
He inquires
about the
star.
'Come liome
tills way aiid
banquet wiili
me/
663
II. Rex. Sir, youre coniTwandement we woll fullfyll
And humbly abaye owreself there-tyll.^
He thatt weldith all thyng at wyll
Tlie redde way bus teyche,'
S/r kyng, thatt we ma passe your land in pes 1
Ebopb. Yes, and walke softely ey vin at your one es; 669
Youre pase-porte for a C deyis
Here schall you haue of clcre cum^nand,
Owre reme to labur any weyis
Here schall you haue be spesschall grante. 673
Tliey agree,
and receive a
passport.
III. Rex. Now fare-well, kyng of by degre,
Humbly of you owre ley ve we take.
Erode. Then adev, sir kyngis all thre ;
And whyle I lyve, be bold of me !
There ys nothyng in this cuntre
But for youre one ye schall yt take.
(104)
679
^ 1817 Ed. Tias to us be west, which is probdbly the original
7'cading.
'^ M. Qy. there-to. ' M. Qy. show.
24 TWO OOVKHTBT OORPUB OHRIflTI FLATS.
[Exeunt the three kimge,}
Htrod wm Now these iij kyngis are gon on ther wey ;
smUi whM On-wjeely a9id on-wyttely haue the all wtoghte.
When the cum^ ageyne, the schall dy that saibo dey,
And thus these yyle wreychis to dey th the schalhe
broght, —
Soch.e ys my lykyng. 684*
He that agenst my lawis wyll hold,
Be he kyng or keysar neyucr soo bold,
I schall them cast in-to caris cold
And to deyth I schall them bryng. 688
There Erode jfoth hie %oeyie and the iij kyUgie cum in
ageyne,
TiMkhiffa I. Hex. blessid God, moche ys thy my^ht !
niLnoeuid Wheie ys this star thatt gawe vs lyghtt 690
•Ur.
n. Eex. Now kuele we downe here in this presence,
Be-sekyng that Lord of hy mangnefecens '
That we ma see his hy exsellence
Yff thatt his swot wyll be ? » 694
III. Rex. Yondur, brothur, I see the star,
Where-by I k no he ys nott far ; *•
Therefore, lordis, goo we nar
Into this pore place. 698
Jliere the iij kyngie gois in-to the jeeen, to Mare and hir
child.
Theflnt I. Eex. Hayle, Lorde thatt all this worlde hathe
briug* gold; ^
wroght !
Hale, God and man to-gedur in fere I (1^5)
For thow hast made all thyng of noght,
Albe-yt thatt thow lyist porely here ;
A cupe-ftdl [of] * golde here I haue the broght,
the tecond, In toconvng thow art with-out pare. 704
incense ; •/ c ^
II. Rex. Hayle be thow, Lorde of hy mangnyffecens ! *
In toconyng of preste[h]od® and dyngnete of
offece,
^ M. cum. * S. mangnefecens, corr. by M.
^ S. wylbe, corr. by U. * Corr. by S.
" S. raat«giiyffecens, corr, by 'Hi, ^ So M.
PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 25
To the I offur a cnpe-fuU off in-sence,
For yt be-hovith the to haue soche sacrefyce. 708
ni. Kbx. Hayle be thow, Lorde longe lokid fore !
I haue broght the myre for mortalete, «»« twrd.
In to-cunyng thow schalt mankynd restore
To lyflf be thy deyth apon a tre. 712
Mare. God haue marce, kyngis, of yowre goodnes ; Mary biemes
Be the gydyng of the godhed bidder ar ye sent ;
The provyssion^ off my swete sun your weyis whom
reydres,
And gostely reywarde you for youre present ! 716
[As the kings go away, they say ;]
I. Rex. Syr kyngis, af tur owre promes Tiiey are
Whome be Erode I mvst nedis goo, Hs^^^
° of Herod,
n. Rex. Now truly, brethur,^ we can noo las, & rw^****
But I am 800 for-wachid* I wott not wat to do. 720
ni. Rex. Right soo am I ; where-fore I you pray,
Lett all vs rest vs awhyle upon this grownd.
I, Rex. Brothur, your* seying ys right well vnto my
pay.
The g?*ace of thatt swet chylde saue vs all sownde ! 724
[They lie down, and while they sleep, an angd appears,"]
Angellct^. Kyng of Tawrus, Ser Jespar, An angei
T7- i»* 1 oi.-r\ii greets them
Jiyng of Arrab\', Sir Baltliasar, and warns
tiieni.
Melchor, Kyiig of Aginare,
To you now am I sent. (106) 728
For drede of Eyrode, goo you west whom ;
In-to those parties when ye cum downe,
Ye schalbe byrrid with gret reynowne ;
The WhoUe Gost thys» knoleyge hath sent. [ExU,\ 732
I. Rex. Awake, sir kyngis, I you praye, They talk it
For the voise of an angell I hard in my dreyme.
II. Rkx. Thatt ys full tru thatt ye do sey,
For he reyherssid owre names playne. 736
^ 1817 Ed. nuvssion. ' S. berthnr, corr, by M.
' 8. far wocnid, corr. byM.. * C(mtr,for er. * 8., M. thus.
over.
26 TWO COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLATS.
III. Rbx. He bad thatt we echuld goo downe be west
For drede of Eyrodis fawls be-traye.
T)>e flwt I. Rbx. Soo forto do, yt ys the best ;
farewell. The Child that we haue soght, gyde vs the wcy ! 740
Now fare-well, the feyrist of schapp so swete !
And thaiikid be Jesus of his sonde,
Thatt ^ we iij to-goder soo suddenly schuld mete,
Thatt dwell soo wyde and in straunge lond, 744
And here make owre presentacion
Vnto tliis kyngis son clensid soo cleyne
And to his moder for ovre saluacion ;
Of moche myrth now ma we meyne,
Thatt we soo well hath done this obblacion. 749
tiieMoond . II. Rbx. Now farewell. Sir Jaspar, brothur, to yoeu,
kingid^i, .. KyngofTawrusthemostworthe;
Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow ;
And I thanke you bothe of youre good cumpany
Thatt we togeddur haue had. 754
He thatt made vs to mete on hyll,
I thanke hym now and eyuer I wyll ;
For now may we goo wtt/i-owt yll.
And off owre offerynge be full glad.^ 758
«n«i the third III. Rbx. Now syth thatt we mvst nedly goo (107)
For drede of Erode thatt ys soo wrotlie,
Now fare-well brothur, and brothur also,
I tike my leve here at you bothe
This day on fete.s 7G3
Now he thatt made vs to mete on playne
And offur* to Mare in hir jeseyne,
He gave vs grace in heyvin a-gayne
All to-geyder to mete ! 767
[They go out, and Herod arid his train occupy the pageant,]
« Hail ! Main- Nuiv^cios. Hayle, kynge,^ most worthist in wede !
tainerof , 11 -nt.
courtesy ! Hayle, mauteinar of curtese throgh all this world
wyde !
^ M. That. 2 S. fayne, corr. by M. * S. fote, corr, by M.
* S. otl'urde, corr, by M. ^ M. kyng.
PAGEANT OP THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLOBS. 27'
Hayle, the most myglityst that ejner bestrod a stede !
Ha[y]ll,^ most monfuUist mon in armor man to
abyde !
Hayle, in thyne hoonowre ! 772
Thesso ill kynds that forthe were sent The throe
: •' •' o kings went
And schuld hane cum ageyne before the h^re homeanoiher
present,
Anbthur wey, lorde, whom the wejit,
Contrare to thyn honowre. 776
Erode. A-nothur wey 1 owt I owt 1 owtt ! Herod rage«.
Hath those fa wis traytvrs done me fJds ded ?
I stampe ! I stare ! I loke all abowtt !
Myght I them take, I schuld them bren at a glode ! . - .
I rent ! I rawe ! and now run I wode !
A I thatt these velen trayturs hath mard tJm my mode!
The 8ch£dbe hangid yf I ma cum them to ! 783
ffere Erode ragis in the pagond and in the strete also,
E I and thatt kerne of Bedlem, he schalbe ded He wui siay
' the Child.
And thus schall I for-do his prt^fece.* 785 MattMia-is,
How sey you, sir knyghtisi ys not this the best red,
Thatt all yong chyldur for this schuld be dede,
Wyth sworde to be slayne] (108) 788
Then schall I, Erod, lyve in lede,
And all folke me dowt and drede,
And offur to me bo the gold, rychesse, and mede ;
Thereto wyll the be full fayne. 792
I. Myles. My lorde, kyng Erode be name, woSiTrou^r
Thy wordis agenst my wyll schalbe ; "®^
To see soo mawy yong chylder dy ys schame.
Therefore consell ther-io gettis thon non of me. 796
II. Myles. Well seyd, fello, my trawth I plyght.
Str kyng, persoyve right well you may,
Soo grett a morder to see of yong frute
Wyll niake a rysyng in thi noone cuntrey. 800
Erode. A rysyng ! Owt ! owt ! owt I 801
^ Corr, by 8. ^ Qy. his profece for-do.
28 TWO COVENTRY CORPUS CHBISTI PLATS.
There Erode ragis ageyne and then teyth thus :
Herod Mireat- Owt ! velen WTychis, har apon you I cry !
(hem. My wyll vtturly loke that yt be wroght,
Or apon a gallowse bothe you schall dy,
Be Mahownde most myghtyste, tJiat me doro
hath boght ! 805
I. Mtlks. Now, cruell Erode, syth we schall do this
dede!
Your wyll nedefully in this realme mvste be wroght ;
All the chylder of tliat age dy the mvst nede ;
Now yrith all my myght the schall be vpsoght. 809
11^ BweMP II. Mtlbs. And I woll sweyre here apon your bryght
sworde,^
All the chylder thatt I fynd, sclayne the schalbe ;
Thatt make many a moder to wepe and be full sore
aferde^
In owre armor bryght when the bus see. (109) 813
Erode. Now you have swome, forth thai ye goo,
And my wyll thatt ye wyrke bothe be dey and
nyght,
He trips uke And then wyll I for fayne trypp lyke a doo.
But whan the be ded I wame you bryng ham*
be-fore my syglit. 817
HattAiA^ii, [Herod and his train go atoay, and Joseph and Mary are,
while asleep, addressed by an angel.]
ANGBLLtr5. Mare and Josoff, to you I sey,
Swete word from the Fathur I bryng you full
ryght :
« Qo forth ^ Owt of Bedlem in-to Eygype forth goo ye the wey
And with you take the King, full of myght,
For drede of Eroddis rede ! 822
JosoFF. A-ryse up, Mare, hastely and sone ;
Owre Lordis wyll nedys mvst be done,
Lyke ase the angell vs bad. 825
^ M. changes to swerde.
- This line as two in S., the first ending with wepe.
^ M. prints [t]ham. t
PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 29
•
Mare. Mekely, Josoff, my none spowse, 'Meeicijyiet
Towarde that cuntrey let vs reypeyre ;
Att Eygyp ^to sum ciin off^ howse,
God grant hus grace saff to cum there ! 829
ffere the wemen!^ cum. in vrythe there ehyldur, syngyng^ <^
them; cmd Mare and Joaoff goth avjcy cleyne.
L WoMON. I loUe my chylde wondursly swete, tiw motiiers
*> 'I . hush their
And in my nannis I do hyt kepe, *»*>«•
Be-cawse thatt yt schuld not cryo.
II. Woman. Thatt babe thatt ys borne in Bedlem,
so meke,
He saue my chyld and me from velany ! 834
III. Woman. Be styll, be sty 11, my lyttuU chylde !
That Lorde of lordis saue bothe the and me ! (110)
For Erode hath sworne wi t/i wordis wyld
Thatt all yong ehyldur sclayne the schalbe. 838
I. Mtles. Sey ye, wyddurde wy vis, whydder ar ye tiw Boidiers
a-weyl
What beyre you in youre armis nedis mvst we se.
Yff the be mafi-chyldur, dy the mvst tlivA dey.
For at Eroddis vryll all thyng mvst be. 842
II. Mtles. And I in handis wonys the& hent.
Them forto sley noght woll I spare ;
We mvst f ull-fyll Erodis commandement,
Elis be we asse trayturs and cast all in care. 846
I. Woman. Sir knyghtis, of youre curtessee, «D«ii8t,for
Thys dey schame not youre chevaldre, »»>« ft"**
But on my child ^ haue pytte
For my sake in this styde ; 850
For a sympull sclaghtur yt were to sloo
Or to wyrke soche a chyld ^ woo,
Thai can noder speyke nor goo.
Nor neuer harme did. 854
*— ^ M. irdrodvAies this emend, by Kittredge ; 8. sum tocuii off.
^ K. loemen, ^ The song {II.) is at the end of the pageant,
* M. chyld. » M. chylde.
Herod's
oommaiids.
.30
TWO GOVBKTBT CORPUS CHBI8TI PLATa
TlMMOOod
Will deleud
ber child.
AikinlwiU
Imy OH with
apotladk.
'Did yon
«v«r liMir
■ocbacijP'
The King
must bear
the blame.
II. WoMON.* He iLatt sleyia my chyld in syglit,
Yff thatt my atrokis on bym ma lyglit,
Be he skwyar or knyght,
I hold hym but lost. 858
Se, thow fawls losyiigere,
A stroke scbalt tbow beyre me here ^
And spare for no cost. 861
iiL Woman. Sytt be neyuer soo by in saddoll,
But I scball make bis braynis addull^
And here wit/t my pott-ladull
AVtU bym woU I fygbt (111) 865
I scball ley on bym, a[8] tbogb* I wode were,
With tbys siame womanly gey re ;
There scball noo man stcyre,
AVbeddur thatt be be kyng or knygbi 869
[Here they kill the children.}
I. Myles. Who hard eyuer socbo a cry
Of wemen thatt there cbyldur haue lost,
And grettly reybukyng cbewaldry
Throgb-owt this reme in eyuere* cost,
Wyche many a mans lyff ys lyke to cost 1
For tbys grett wreyche that here ys done
I fey re moche wengance thei-oS. woll cvliiu 876
«
II. Mtlbs. E ! brotbur, socbe talis may we not tell ;
Where-fore to the kyng lett vs goo.
For be ys lyke to beyre the peroll,
Wyche wasse the cawser that we did soo.
Yett must the all bo broght bym to
Wit^ waynis and waggyns fully fryght ;
I tro there wolbe a carefull syght. [They go to Herod,] 883
They report. I. Mylbs. Loo ! Eyrode, kyug, here mast thow see
How many M' thatt we haue slayne.
II. Myles. And nedis thy wyll full-fyllid must be ;
There ma no mon sey there-ageyne. 887
' M. Woman. ^ Contr. for er.
3 S. athog, corr, by M. * /So M., S. eyueer.
PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS.
31
[Enter Nuntius.}
Nuiv^cios. Eyrode, kyng, I schall the tell.
All thy dedis ys cam to noght ;
This chyld ys gone in-to Eygipte to dwelL
Loo ! BiTy in thy none land what wondnis byn
wroght! 891
Erod. Into Eygipte 1 alas, for woo ! (112)
Lengur in lande here I canot abyde ;
Saddall my palfrey, for in hast wyll I goo,
Aftor yondor trayturs now wyll I ryde.
Them for to sloo. 896
Now all men hy fast
In-to Eygipte in hast !
All thatt contrey woll I tast,
Tyll I ma cum them to. 900
Fynes lnde de taylars and scharmen.
Tys* matter / nevly correcte be Robart Croo / the
xiiij**' dey of marche / fenysschid in the yere of owre Lorde
God / M CCCCC & xxxiiij*®. / then beyng mayre mastur
Palmar / also mastris of the seyd fellyschipp Hev Cor-
bett / Eandull Pynkard and / John Baggeley.
Theiae songes (113) / helonge to I the Taylors and Shearemens
Fctgcmt. / The first and the laste the shq^heards singe / and ike
second or middlemost the women singe.
Thomas Mawdyckb
Die decimo tertio Maij anno domim jdiH
gentesimo nonagesimo primo. / Praetor fait
CouentrisB D. Mathaeus^ Eichardson, tunc
Johanes Whitehead et Thomas Grauener.*
Tlie flight
iuto EKjpt
made luum
trn.
Herod ridM
after Ui«
furtive*.
/
Song I.
As I out rode this end eras night,
Of thre ioli sheppardes I saw a sight,
And all a-bowte there fold a star shone brig^;
Thsy sange terli terloio ;
So rtiereli the sheppards ther pipe^
1 S. T[h]ys. 2 s, Mathaens, arrr, by ML •
J* •
32 TWO OOVSNTBT GORPUS CHBI8TI PLATS.
Song II.
Ltdly^ luUay iho^o litteU tine child^
By hy, hilly luUayy thotr litteU tyne diild^
By by, lully lullay 1
O sisten toOy
How may we do^
For to preserve tlm day
This pore yongling
For whom we do singe ^
By by, luUy lullay 1 6
Heroil, tlie king, (lU)
In his raging,^
Chargid he hath this day
His men of might
In his owne sight ^
All yonge children to slay, — 12
That wo is me,
Pore child, for thee^^
And ever mome and may^
For thi parting
Nether say nor singe,^
By by, lully lullay. 18
Song III.
Doune from heaven, from heaven so hie,
Of angeles th&c came a great companie,
WttA mirthe and ioy and great solemnitye,
The sange terly terlow ;
So mereWJlve skeppards ^er pipes can blow, 5
^ This and the preceding line as one in S,
> S. say ; M. aUrib. corr. to Kittredge.
33
®fe^ ||H0eHtil of t^t Wtafaers.'
[Dramatis PBRSONiE.
i PvofcttL \
ii. Profeta lln the Prophet Play (LI. 1-176).
m. Profeta]
Simeon
Anna
i. Angel
ii. Angel
Clarecus
Gabriel
Mary
Joseph
Joseph
Mary
Jesus
i. Doctor
ii. Doctor I
Hi, Dodor J
^In the Purification (LI. 177-721).
In the Disputation in the Temple
(LI. 722-1191).]
*ItiBtbe
star of
prophscy/
Profeta frimus. Ye grett^ astronemars^ now awake, (31) 'strange
With youre * iaamts fatheres of felosefy aur has
- , . , . R 1 appeared in'
And in-to the oreient reyspecte ° ye take, the ea»u'
Where nevis and strangis be cuwi of lately,
Afferniyng the seyn^ of old p?*ofecie,
Thatt a star ^ schuld apere
Apon the hyll of Wawse among bus here I 7
II. Profeta.^ Ye brethur all, then be of good cbere,
For those tythings niaky th ® my hart ful lyght !
We haue desirid many a yere
Of thatt star to haue a syght,
And spesschalli of tiiat kyng of myght
^ Reprinted from The Presentation in the Temple^ A Pageantj
as originaily represented by the Corporation of Weavers in Coventry,
Edmburgh : Printed for the Abbotsford Club, 1886. The editor of
this was Thomas Sharp. In the footnotes, S. indicates this edition.
H. indicates the edition by Professor F. Holthausen in Anglia,
N. F. XIII., 209-50. The MS., with which this text has been
collated, belong to the Clothiers and Broad Weavers' Company of
Coventiy, and is to be placed among the Corp. MSS. MS. b refers
to the fragments of another version printed for the first time in
Appendix IV*
^ MS. b. Ye gret, MS. E ! grett (?), S. Grett
' H. emends to astronomars, many similar changes below,
* S. youre, H. ye. " MS. b. aspecte. • H. inserts [of Jacob].
^ S. PROFETA II ; so below for prophets, angels, and doctors,.
8 S. in wyth, corr, emend, by H.
0. C. PLAYS. D
34
TWO OOYXNTBT 00BFU8 CHBI8TI PLATS.
ThtMoond
proplMt
WiSMltO
knoirinon
of It.
It ilffniflM
Niitttity,
tiM
Moordinff to
the propoeC
Balaam.'
ITuM^, xziv.
17.
The manner
of his birth.
Isaiah the
authority.
I$a. vii. U.
Of whose cumyng we haue playne warnyng
Be this same star aftor profettis desemyng.^ (32) 14
Yet furtboTy I pra* you for my larnyng,
Lett has hawe' sum comenecaciou
Of this star be oldd pro^ostefying^
How bit aperid^ and under whatt fassion. 18
I. Pbofbta. Sir, aftur a strange deformacion*
As be atorite reyherse I can ;
For this same star be interpretacion
Syngnefyth ^ 4;he nateyete of a man ; 22
As the profett Balam
In his text afarmyth right well,
Seying : " Orietur stella ex Jaeobo, et exmrget
homo de Israel." 25
He seyd of lacobe a star schuld springe,
Wyche syngnefyith only this same kynge
Tbatt amongist vs now ys cum.
And as towchyng the letter folloyng :
Et ipse dominabitur omni gen&Nidone, 30
II. Profeta. Sir, here ma be movid a questeon
Of this nobull prince of soo hi degree,
The wyche of all men schall haue domeneon,
Vndur what maner borne he schuld be,
I, Propeta. Ase ye schall here right wonder-
fulles
I5e devine powar of a virgene pure,
Afarmyng the profeci agenst all nature. (33) 37
II. Profeta. Where fynde you thai in wholle scrip-
ture
Before pro^nostefide* this to be done?
I. Propbta. Isaee the profett wrytith full sure,
Ecce Virgo conclpiet,^ pariet filium ! [f. i a]
Balam seyng of the heyvinly wyssedome^^
^ H. cJianges to desarnyng ; many similar alterations throughout,
2 H. vjrites pra[y], similarly below in numerous other cases.
^ H. changes w to v ; so below in other similar toords.
* Contraction for pro, * S. aperie. • MS. b. demonstracion.
' S. Syngnefyn, MS. illegible^ M:S. b. singnefith. * S. wonderfulL
^ H. iiiserts [et], ^^ H. piUs this line in the foot-notes.
f
PAGEANT or THB WBAVBBS.
35
A man scbuld spryng here in Isaraell,
The ^ seyd Isayee answeyring to that questeon : ^
Et vocaJbityxr nomen eius JEmanvel, 45
II. Propbta. Yett haue I grett marvell,
How thatt men schuld tell ^
Off such strangis before the fell,
And man beyng here but a mortall creature.^ 49
I. Propbta. Be devine powar, I make you sure,
The sprete of prof ece to them was sent,
Soo to subscrybe in wholle scripture,*
And yett them-selfe wyst not watt yt ment. 53
II. Profbta. Now laude be vnto hym that soche
knoleyge sent
Vnto bus wreychis of pore symplecete.
Where* he ys Lord and God omnipotent, (34)
In this hys wyll to make bus prove !
I. Profbta. Did nott tJiat prof ett man Malache
Eesite vnto bus on this same wyse
Tbatt the sun of lyff schall spring and arise ) 60
Wyche cawsid Isaee to cast up his iees
Toward hey vin with all his inward syght,
Seying, " Good Lord, afarmyng thy p*omes.
Send downe to bus this wonly sun off myght,
Huse to reystore vnto owre right !
Owt of deserte, from the bard stone,
Reycomfordyng thi dogbtur dwyllyng in Sion ! " 67
Also Jaramo,<^ thatt wholle mon,
Seyd in beyvin God schuld make seede,
A greyne off Davith, tbatt now ys cum,
Wyche eyuer in gracys shall spring and spreyde
And kepe Juda owt off drede
And also Isaraell sett in surenes.
And he schall make jugementis of rightwesenes. 74
^ H. emends The[n].
' This and t?ie preceding line iwoerted in H.
' This (md the preceding line as one in H.
* B., has Where[a8]. * H. alters to Jareme.
' How OOQld
■uoh a pro*
pheqr D6
madaP' ,
The prophecy
of Malaehl.
Mai, Iv. S.
Isaiali'i
prayer.
I$a, li. S.
Jeremiah's
prophecy.
Jer. xxxUU
ti. (P)
36
"TWO GOVXNTRT CORPUS CHBISTI PLATS.
The second
Prophet is
utouisbed.'
More about
the coming of
theMessiiiL
Farther
question
about the
star.
Description
of the vision.
Luke ii. 11.
II. Profeta. I wondre to here you this expres,
Be actoris hi, this worthe mystere.
And spesschalle of this ytrtu rightwessenes.
Where hit schalbe vsid and in whatt parte.
L Profeta. Apon the yarthe bothe wtt/2 hy and loo
degre;
And rightwessenes men schall hym call, (35)
When he schall cum to sit in the see [C s]
Of King Davity tliai most riall stall ; ^
And ther schall he before the pristis all
Of Juda and Ley ve be his powar device,
WM nev * insence to do sacref yce.
To God aboue for the grett offence
Of the peple and for ^ yngnorance,*
Wit^ there offeringe to make reycompence
For the lenage of Adamt^ progeny.
This schall this childe by theym free
From all the offencis thatt th& haue done
Be cruell deyth and bytter passion.
II. Profbta. Good^ Sir, yett under prt^dustacion*
Owre feyth thereby for to incresse,
Of this star lett hus haue reylacion,
How hit aperid and vndur whatt fassion,
Yff hit wold pleyse you for to expresse.^
I. Profeta. Wit/i diners streymw of grett
78
85
92
98
brightnes,
A child therm of flagrant swetnes,
Wyche apon his bake a crosse did beyre,
And of an eygull hit bare the lykenes,
Beytyng his wyngis into the eyre ;
A woise there-in off lange feyre ^
Thatt wasse hard throgh-owt the cuntrey,
Seyinge: *^ Nattcs est nobis oddie rex Judeorxim — et
sethere:'^ (36) 105
^ S. of all. H. omits of all.
''^ H. changes v to w ; so below in similar words,
^ H. inserts [their]. * H. inserts [hi].
* H. God. * H. changes to protestacion.
' H. inverts this and the preceding line, ^ S. lange tejfe ;
H. has lang[ag]o (ejre, * H. corr, [h]odie . . . cetera.
PAOBANT OF THE WEAVBB8.
3T
II. Profbta. Of a farthur dcclaracion I wold you praye,
Whatt trybus the were and in whatt parte,
The were date, and whatt maner a wey
They haue mside probate of this profece. 109
I. Paofeta. And thatt schall I scho you right
eyvedently.
The grett lordis of the land of Caldy
Fowndid twelve masturs of asestronemy
For to se this star apere ;
And when these masturs were eylecte,
On the hill of Wawse ^er wache the kepte
And the all togedder neuer sclepte
Abowe ix® yere. 117
II. Profeta. And dide the soo longe wache^ that
hill] [f.2a]
I. Profeta. Ye truly, tyll iJiAt hit was this kyngis
wiU
This seyd profece for to fullfyll,
Thatt strange star to send them till,^
Whereof the had intellegenee ; 122
That af tur the darkenes of the nyght
In the day hit schone soo bright,
Thatt when the sun and the stare
In the yeyre togeythur warre, (37)
Betwyxt them wasse lyttull or non indyfference. 1 27
Farther
question.
TweWe lordi
ofChaldea
kept watch
900 yeai I for
the star,
which was a
guide for the
three Kings.
And SOO this stare wasse a s^rveture
And ynto iij kyngis a playn cundeture
Ynto the mancion of a yir^n pure.
Matt. ii. 9.
130
n. Profbta. But ar you sure for whatt intent ]
I. Profbta. Forsothe to Bedlem streyght the went,
Whereasse the ofifurd to this childe reuerent
Wtt/t grett omage a famti^ present. 134
The furst wasse gold, as most myghte kyng ;
The seycond wasse myr, asse prist of pristis beyng ;
The thryd wasse insence, in tokyning of byrring.^ 137
^ H. inserts [on]. ' H. changes to there.
' H. changes to byriing.
The offerings
of the Kiugr.
38
TWO OOTBNTBT OOBPUB OHRISTI PLATS.
'Whtrtto
Htthaftli
born Kins of
th« J«wsl '
Matt. U. t.
•Lftns
daipui to pay
o«ir derotion
to tlMobild.'
Th^pndte
CkMl for thetr
purtioular
enllghten-
menty
and exhort
all here
n. Profbta. Yet wold I kno the cawse spesschalljy
Whatt movid these kyngis to cum so hastelj,
And whedor the cam oopan or pievy. 140
I. Profbta* The star broght them throgh ejnere cuntie ;
And eyu^r as the cam oopunly,
The dide inquere of those neyis ;
Eyusr the axid, ** Where ys he
Thatt ys borne for to be
The kyng of Juys V*^ 146
Therefore lett bus wtt^ all delegence
Ynto tJiat chyld geye honowre and reyuerence, (38)
And thatt we ma cum vnto his presence
To haue fruyssion of his hi deyit[e]. 150
And, brothur, I thanke you of youre pacyence ;
For now att thys tyme departe wyll wee.
II. Pbofbta. Now, brothur, for youre swete sentence,
Att all tymiff welcum to me — 154
Loo ! fryndis,* there may you see
How God in man workith alwey.
Now all we that his servandis be [t s]
Hathe grett cawse in hym to joie,
Wyche sendyth bus knoleyge the truth to sey ;
And he soo meraculosly wyrkyng iherwith
Thatt of all soycrettis we wryte* the were pyth ;
Wherefore moclie cawse haue we to make myrth,
When we reymeiJibur the gloreose birthe
Of this virgyns sun.
He the Seconde Person in the Trenete
Eyquall ^iih his Fathur in deyite
Aud^ under the curteyne of owre vmanete,
For bus wold man becum.
<
i
161
168
Wherefore, here I exsorte you all,
That in this place here asembulde bo,.
Vnto this chyldo for merce cawll,
^ This and preceding lin^ as one in S., cmr. by H.
' Stage-direction omitted in S. Speech of second prophet begins at
line 155 in S. * H. inserts [dere],
* H. changes to wyte. ^ H. mnits And.
PAGBANT OF THE WEAVBBS. 39
Wycbe schall reydeme vs apon a tre. 172 to pray for
ndtBrnptioii*
And thatt gloreose blys thatt we ma see,
Wycbe be batbe ordenide for all men
In bis selesteall place to be (39)
In secuta eecidoTum^ amen 1 176
Her9 Semeon intrythe and the last pto/eU gothe ouftt. ^^* U.25-85.
Sbmbon. Tbe seylesteall Soferent, owre by Gode plSSfS!*
' etemaXL !
Wycbe of tbis mervelus world ys the fowndatur,
And create^ tbe by beyvins bis one see empcrell
Wzt^ sun, mone and ataxia, yortbe,^ sky and
wattur' —
And al for tbe sustenance of owre vmayne
nature —
W»t^ fyscbe, fowle, best, and eyuere otbur tbyng,
Vndur bus to baue the naturall cowrs and beyng. 183 •
Yett owre formere parence at tbe begynnyng and miuf «f*
Tbrogb dyssobeydence bad a grevose fawU moruaity.
From tbe by pales a7id blys eyuerlastyng
Downe into tbis* wale^ off ^ meserabull mvndall ;
For tbe wycbe transgression all we ar now
mortall,
Tbatt before wasse infynite for eyuer to remayne
And now scball take yend^ be deytb and cruell
payne. 190
Wycbe grevoise sorro ofte dotbe me conatrayne
Inwardly to sygbe and byttur teyris to wepo,
Tyll tbatt I reymembur tbe grett comforde ageyne
Of anceant profettis wit/i ther sentens swete, t^- »«]
Wbose fructutM syence of profownde larnyng
depe
In tbere awturs aperitb to bus rigbt manefestly.
Of Isaee, Sebbellam,^ Balam, and Malache. '^
Lorde of lordis ! In bart beseke I tbe,
Of tbis infinite worke to send me the tru lyfi^i^
^ H. omits And and writes Create[d].
» S. <Aorthe. H. changes to for the. « S. matter-
* Omitted in S. » H. changes to vile. « So MS. K,
' S. thend. 8 MS. b. has the Sebellis.
40
TWO OOVBNTRY CORPUS OHBISTI PLATS.
of tiM Be-
Truly to expownde this seyde wholle profece ;
And also of that kyng that I ma haue a syght, (40) 201
And that we ma walke in his weyis nppright,^
The wyche be reydemcion schall hus all reyles.
At whose cumyng the tru ovncion of Juda schall
seyse. 204
for h* it
growing oUL
Now, Lord, follfyll thatt hy tyme of pes !
For age draith me fast apon.
Fayne wold I see thatt wholle of whollenes.
Or this mortall lyff fro me were gone.
Now, Lorde, ase thow art iij in won,
Grant me grace, yff thatt thy wyl^ be,
In my nold age that syght for to see !
211
He would
(hmidftpart
In
Then at thy wyll, Lorde, fayne wolde I be,
Yff thow soche grace woldist me sende.
To loove the, Lorde, vfith all vmelyte,
And soo of my lyff then to make an ende !
Yett, Lorde, thi grace to me now extende,
Suffur me rathur yett to lyve in peyne
Then to dy, or thatt I thatt solam syght haue seyne ! 218
LukeiuSn-aS.
Anna asks
to be remeni'
bered in his
prayer.
Here Ane eumyth in to Semeon and scythe :
Anb. sufferent Semeon ! With all solemnete,
Thatt of owre gloreose tempull hath tJie gouean-
ance.
With all dev reuerance here beseke I the
Thi^ olde frynde in Gode to haue in reymembur-
ance,
The wyche hathe tarrid be a long contenvance
For the comyng of the right Messee,
Wyche hathe byn promysid vnto hus be profece.
Lorde ! thogh that I be nothynge worthe
To see the fassion of thi most presseose pyctore,
Yett, Lorde, acsepte me of thi grett marce, (41)
225
^ This line supplied from MS. b.
'^ H. inserts [hit]. * H. writes thi[n].
PAOEANT OF THE WEAVERS.
41
Asse thy pore serwand and feythfull creature.
To se the, Lorde, yff ihja\» I myght be sure,
No lenger on grownd wold I reyquere
In this mortall lyff to contenev here. [f. «] 232
SiMB02^. O fey thefull frynde and louer dere !
To you this text ofte haue I tolde,
That the lyght of Leyve amonge vs here
In Isaraell schuM he bo^it tsnd sold ;
Asse avnceant profettis hereof hathe told,
That in this lande here he schuld make surenes.
And he to be cawlid the Kyng of Pes. 239
Asse Isaee hymselfe herein to wyttnes,
" In facte pqptdoTum" this did he sey,
^^Cum. venerit sandtis sanctoTum cessabit unctio vestra."
And soo when owre ryght blod schall seyse,
Moche yirtn and grace then schall incresse
WiUb hy jugementis of rightwessenes
Amongest has evyn here in Isaraell. 246
Anb. Y£E thatt I myght abyde that dey,
Thatt wholle off wholleis for to see
Wyche thatt I haue desyrid allwey,
In this worlde^ well were me.
Now, Lord, and yff thy wyll hit be,
Grant me my hoope, longe lokid fore ;
Then joie nor welthe kepe I no more. (42) 253
SiMBoy. Now, Ane, systur and dere frynde,
Lett hus bothe with a whole intent
In thys tru feyth owre lyvis yend,
Lawdyng thatt Lorde wyche ys omnipotent ;
Wherefore I thynke hyt full expeydente*
In conteniall preyar for to indure.
To kno tJierhj his graceose plesura
Ane. sofferent Semeon I Thi famt^ consell
Inwardely gladyth me in my hart.
No-thyng contentyth my mynd soo well.
Wherefore at thia tyme woll we departe.
260
She would
also die
gladly if the
could see the
Lord.
He quotes
propuecy.
264
Dan, iz. 24.
Anna prays
that she inny
abide until
the coming.
They must
endure in
continual
prayer.
Anna is en-
oouraged.
^ H. inserts [so].
' S. ezpeydeut. H. changes to ezpedyent ; so other similar words.
42
TWO OOVENTBT CORPUS CHBISTI PLATS.
•Th«^.J* SiMBON. Now, Ane, syth f^t ye wol hence nede^
Vnto the tempull with all spede [f. *«]
Owre Lordis wyll for to abyde,
That Lord of lordis be thy gyde
And sende the that wyche thow lovist most ;
Botlie heyle* and bote for the provide,
Where^yuer thow goo in any cost ! 271
Slmaoii
alwajt prtyt
bflftirthe
gOMtorwL
His prayer.
An nngel
announces
AnegoesoiU,
Fryndis, now ys hit tyme to prey.
Before that I my rest do take,
My custome hathe yt byn alwey,
Asse long ase eyaer I am awake,
Intersession vnto that Lorde to make
Of hym to obteyne all my reyquest.
And theib fall peysable to take my rest.^
(43)
278
Now, Lorde, that madist all thyng of noght^
Both hevyn and hell and eyuere creature,
Asse thow knoist myn inwarde thoght,
Reycomforde [me]* when hit ys thy plesure ;
For I do covett no more treysure
Then the tyme of thy natevete
With my mortall yeeis thatt I myght se. 285
But asse thow wolt, Lorde, all thyng mvst be.
And reysun hit ys thatt hit be soo ;
My wyll therto schall eyuer agre.
My wholle desyre now dost ^^u kno.
Or thatt I vnto slepe do goo,
I commytt my warkis wtt^ all the strcumstance
Wholly vnto thy lawis and ordonance. 292
There Semeon aeUys hym doune to rest^ ase hii were^ and
the Angell seythe to hym:
I. Angell. Semeon, of thy rest awake ;
Owre Lorde in heyvin he sendyth^ the gretyng
Of my message, with the for to make,
^ S. yede, H. changes to rede and inserts [I] before it.
2 Changed by a later hand to heylth. ^ Omitted in S.
* Supplied by H. ^ SoK., S. sendyght.
PAGEANT OF THB WEAVERS.
43
With the, hys f rind, a solame metyng ;
Hj8 blessid bode vnto thi kepyng
WiVdn schort tyme schal be broght,
And here in thy tempuU thow schalte be soght
[t5]
that Clirlst U
•Iiortly to
be bniught to
the t«mple.
299
Seheon. Lorde, whence cam this solam noyse (44)
That awoke me here soo suddenly 1 *
My spretis thervfith did soo reyjoyse,
Thatt no longer slepe cowlde I.
Me-thoght he seyde right perfettly,
Thatt solam Sufferent thatt I schulde see
And haue hym here in my custode. 306
II. Angell. Semeon, thatt Lorde in Trenete
Whom thow hast desirid to see alwey
At thy tempull offurde schal be
Vnto thy honde this same day ;
Therfore spede in all thatt thow may,
That the tempull in ordur be
This prynce to reyseyve yri\Ji all vmelete.
* Speed that
thy temple be
in order.'
313
[Exeunt the two angels,]
Simeon. Now, Lorde of lordis, thankis be to the !
These gloreose tythyngis that here be tolde
In my hart soo gladith me
Thatt I am lyghtar a M folde
Then eyucr I wasse before.
Therefore wyll I^ with al my myght
To se my tempull soo presseoosly pyght
In gorgis araye thatt hyt be dyght
This prynce for to ownowre.^
Simeon
ntJoicee,
318
322
There Semeon gothe to his Clarke and seyth:
Now, fryndis all, be of good chere,
And to owre tempull draw we nere ;
Soche solam nevis now I here,
Thatt all my spretis dothe glade.
Thatt babe ys borne of dyngnete
Thatt we soo long hathe desirid to see,
(45)
and infonns
his clerkd.
326
^ H. inserts [spede]. ^ jj ;^ [h]onowre, similarly heUm,
44 TWO COVENTBT CORPUS CHRI8TI PLATS.
Oure Lord and Kyng ^ most myghte,
Thatt aU this world^ made. 330
Clarboct^. Kow blessid mot that lorde ^ be,
Thatt dey and owre thatt we schall see
His gloreose bodde in Trencte,
Thatt flowre that nener schall fade ! 334
■
He bids th«m Semeon. Ko lenger, Surs, lett vs abyde,
prepare to •»-» j . t * n . » -n
receive the But to the tempuU witA all spede
Lord.
To reyseve the Saueowre of this world wyde [f. sa]
And hym to serve wtt/i lowe and drede 1
Kow, Sirs, loke thatt ye take good hede
To wayte and s^ve wit/i all delegence,
His grace to ownowre wtt^ humble reucrence ! 341
A eierk uks Clarbccts. To s^uo a prynce of soche maimeffecens,
f»ir iiwtruo- ^m . ▼ i
tions about Sir, I wasse neuer wont there-to.
Sythe ye therin hathe more intellegence,
lustmcte me, Sir, how thai I schuld do,
Lost thatt I do offende ; (46) 346
For rathnr then I wolde hym greive,
Thatt Lord on whom I do beleve, —
Yett had I leyuer my-self reymeve
Vnto the worldis yende. 850
How it ia to Semeon. Sith thatt ye for knoleyge dothe make sute,
Your wyttis the bettur do I reypute. -
Wtt/i humble hartis and* make, 353
"Won of hus must holde the lyght
Ande the othur the sacrefyce ;
And I on kneis, asse hyt ys right,
The offece to exsersyse
Vnto thatt babe soo swette. 358
Clarecits. Then hast we this alter to araye
And clothis off onowre theron to laye
Ande the grownde straw we wtt/i flowris gay
Thatt of oddur swetely smellis. 362
1 H. inserts [th&t], ' H. itiserts [hath],
3 H. ?ias lord[ing]e. * H. inserts [ful].
PAGEANT OP THE WEAVERS.
45
Semeon. And when he aprochis nere this place,
Syng then with me thatt conyng hasse
And the othur the meyne space
For joie rynge ye the bellis. Cantant} 366
There Semeon and hia Claries gothe vptotJie tempull and
GabereU cumyth to the tempull dore and seyth : [Mary
and Joseph with the child have occupied the front part
of t?ie pageant.]
Gaberebl. Hayle, Mare, meke and myld ! (47)
The vtrtu m the schall neyuer fade.
Hayle, meydyn, and thy chylde,
Thatt aU this world ^ made ! 370
Thy seylesteall Fadur wyche ys omnipotent
Of his^ ambassaye hethur hathe me sent
Vnto the, lade and viVgyn reyucrent,
Witfi thy sun, owre heyvifi Kynge ! 374
Unto the tempull thatt tkovi schuldist goo, [f. c]
And to whyt turtuls with the also,
And present the chyld and them to,
All iij of them in ofEeryng. 378
Spede you forth thatt ye were gone !
But ley ve nott ye * wold JosofE at whome ;
For nedely, lade, he mvste be won
In this sacrcfyce doyng. 382
Mare. With hart and wyll hit schal be done
In pleysing of that fathur of myght.
Thyddur wyll I bothe hastely and sone
And take [with] ^ me my child soo bryght. 386
Gaberbll. Then to Josoff goo ye full right.
And make hym preve of this case.
Byd hym hast that he were dyght
To gyd you theddur into that place.
Now rest well, Mare, with moche solas 1 (48)
For I mvst thiddur asse I cam froo. 392
[Gabriel goes otU.]
^ This song {h)isat the end of the pageant, ^ H. inserts [hath].
^ S. this. * H. changes to the, ^ SoH,
They sing.
Lukeiui2-2&,
Gabriel greets
Mary and tiie
Cliild.
He bids Iier
malce offering
in tlie temple.
Josepii must
accompany
her.
Mary will
obey.
Gabriel de-
ports.
46
TWO OOVBirrRT OOBFUS CHRI8TI PLATS.
She addroMM
JeMia,
aiid tells
Joieph of the
oommuid. ,
He is ready
to go.
Will he pro-
cure two
doves?
Indeed he
will not.
Marb. He thatt ys ande eyuer wasse
Be thy gyde where-euer thow goo,
And send hus all ^ of his grace 1
I pray here knelynge hit ma be soo. 396
[AddresMs Jems,]
Kow, cum heddur to me, my darlyng dere,
My myrthe, my joie, and al my chere !
S wetter then eyu^ wasse blossum^ on brere !
Thy swete mowthe now wyll I kls. 400
Now, Lorde of lordis, be owre gide,
Where-eyuer we walke in cuntreyis wyde,
And these to tortuls for hus provide
Off them tliatt we do nott mys ! 404
Sire Mare goth to Josoff and seyia :
Eest well, Josoff, my spouse soo free I
JosoFF. Now welcum, Mare ! Dame, whatt sey yee 1
Marb. Swet nevis, husebond, I bring to thee ;
The angell of God wtt/i me hath be
To geve hus bothe warnyng, 409
Thatt you and I vf%\h a wholle intent,
Aftur the law thatt here ys ment,
Schuld in the tempull owre chyld present
In Jerusalem, fher to make offeryng. (49) 413
Josoff. Now, Mare, thatt woll I neuer deny ; [f. e o]
But aftur my powar for to apply
And thatt you kno, dame, asse well asse [I]^ ;
You neuer cawU but I am reddy. 417
Mare. Now, husebond, ye speyke full gentylle ;
Theriom loke, Josoff, and ye cold spy
To turtyll dowis, how thatt we myght cum ny :
For nedely turtuUis offer mvst we ;
Thatt offeryng fawlyth for owre degre. 422
Josoff. Nay, nay. Mare, thatt wol not be.
Myne age ys soche, I ma not well see ;
There schall noo duffu«* be soght for me, 425
Also God me saue ! ^
1 H. iTiserts [the gift].
2 MS. (?) blassom. It is often difficult to differentiate the scribe* 8
e*s and o's, and o's and a's. ' Supplied by S.
* CoMractionfor us. ^ H. adds [so fre].
FAQBANT OF THE WBAYEBS.
47
Mare. Swette Josoff, fuUfyll ye owre Lordis hestes.
JosoFF. Why aind wqldist tb[o]u haue me to hunt
bridis nestis 1
I pray the hartely, dame, leve thosse jestis
And talke of thatt wol be. 430
For, dame, woll I neuer vast my wyttis.
To wayte or pry where the wodkoce syttis ; (50)
Nor to jubbard among the merle pyttis,
•*. For thatt wasse neyiier my gyse. 434
Now am I wold and ma not well goo :
A small twyge wold me ouerthroo ;
And yche were wons lyggyd aloo.
Full yll then schulde I ryse. 438
Mare. Ye hardely, Josoff, do nott drede !
Owre Lorde wyll quyte right well youre mede,
And att all tymi^ be youre spede.
And further you in youre viage. 442
JosoFF. Ey I dame, oy ! God helpe bus all !
Me-thynke youre meymorre were^ small.
On me soo whomly eyucr to call :
You mynde nothynge myne age
But the weykist gothe eyuer to the walle ;
Therefore go thyself, dame ; for me thow schall,^
Ye, or ellis get the a nev page.
Mare. Husebande, these be no womens dedis ;
Therefore, JosofE, ye must forthe nedis ;
For surely there ys no reymedy. 452
JosoFF. Noo remedy then but I mvst goo ? [f. 7]
Kow be my trowthe,^ I ma tell you, (51).
Thosse tythingis ar but cold. 455
Then nedis mvste thatt nedis schall ;
And now he thatt ma worst of all
The candyll ys lyke to holde. 458
Mare. Now, gentyll JosofE, when wyll ye goo
To make an ende of this owre jurney ?
He cannot
be hunting
birds' nestf*
The Lord ■
will help him.
A ACL Sheimposee
**^ on age and
weakuesB.
449
He submits
ungraciously.
^ H. wriJUs ver^. ^ H. supposes t?uit a line is here omitted,
^ See note on line 399.
48 TWO OOVBNTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS.
complaining JosoFP. That shal be or I have any lust tbereto ^
of hit lot in ''
iiaving mar- And thatt dare I boldely sey. 462
ried H yuung " "
thing.
How sey ye all this cumpany
Thatt be weddid asse well asse 1 1
I wens tha\, ye snffur moche woo ; 465
For he thatt weddyth a yonge thyng
Mvst fuUfyll all hir byddyng,
Or els ma he his handis wryng,
Or watur his lis when he wold syng ;
And thatt all you do knoo. 470
Marb. Why sey ye soo, sir 1 Ye be to blame.
^ali***kiiow' Josopp. Dame, all this cnmpany wyll sey the same,
to mfnd J5S ^^ ^^* ^^* ^^ ' Speyke, men, for schame !
''^* Tell you the trothe ase you well con ! 474
For the thai woll nott there wyfl&s plese (52)
Of te-tymt9 schall suff ur moche dysees ;
Therefore I holde hym well at es
Thatt bathe to doo Yfi\h non. 478
Mare. Leyve of these gawdis for my lowe ;
And goo for these fowlys, Sir, I you pray.
The Fadur of heyvin thatt ys abowe
Wyll spede you well in youre jumey. 482
JosoPF. No reymede but I mvst forthe nede.
Sid^m fair ^^^ owrc Lord grant me well for to spede !
thSS'birSf 1^0 • %'® wordis full « of te doth leyde
whUe?' '^&ii cleyne agen there mynd. 486
Now, Lorde God, thow sende me feyre weddur.
And thatt I ma fynd those fowlis togeddur,
Whytt or blake, I care nott wheddur.
So thatt I ma them^ fynde ! 490
Marb. Full well schall you spede hardoly,
YfF thatt ye goo abowt hytt wyllyngly.
JosoFF. Then I woll goo by and by, [f. 7 a]
Thogh* hit be not full hastely.
With all my hart I wol goo spy, 495
^ Son., S. thereta. « mS. aiid S. ffuU. 3 MS. then.
4 S. Thoght.
PAGEANT OP THE WBAVBB8, ' 49
YfF any be in my wey, (53) He win and
I wyll them fynd and I may,^ * «o»no i" ^^
Or thatt I make an ende. 498
Mare. Now that Lorde, thatt best^ may,
He be your spede in youre jumey,
Ande good tythyngis of you me send ! 501
JosoFF. Yea, he thatt hatth soche on on hym to crawe
He schal be sure, asse Ood me sawe,
Eyuer the worse yend of the staff to haue,^
Att the lattur yend. 505
Here Joi$offgothe/rom Mare* cmd seyth :
I wandur abowt myself alone, He wanders
Turtulis or dowis can I non see.
Now, Kyng of heyvin, thow amend my mone;
For I tro I seke nptt where the be I 509
My myght, my strenth ys worne I'ro me ; ^
For age I am waxun almost blynd.
Those fowlys the ar full far fro me thefowbare
•^ evil to find.
And werie yvill for me to fynde. 513
\. ■
I loke fast and neuer the nere ;
My wynd for feynt ys allmost gone.
Lord, henedissete I Whatt make I here
Among these heggis myself alone? 517
For- were I ma no leiicur stond : »«<> *»« ^
° ' weary.
These buskis the teyre me on eyu^re syde.
Here woU I sytt apon this londe,
Ours Lordis wyll for to abyde. 621
I. Angbll. Aryse vp, Josoff, and take no thoght (54)
For these to fowlys thatt thow hast soght. An an^i
_ ,,*.■,! bring* them
Evyn to thy bond I haue them broght, to Wm.
And therefore be off good chere. 525
Take them here bothe to
And ageyne to Mare thy wyff thow goo
Yn^ all the hast thatt hit be doo ;
Thow tarre noo leugur here ! 529
^ This and the preceding line as one in S. and MS.
* H. inserts [so], * H. prints to have with the follovnng line.
* Qy, into the street. ' SoH., S. [me] frome.
0. 0. PLAYS. B
50 TWO iXI f UI T M T (XHtFUS CBRISn PLATS.
Htnttiem Jo0OF7. O ! lawde be Tnto thatt Lorde soo exsellent
For thoee to fowlia thatt I haae soght !
Fallfyllid now ys m jn intent ; [t h]
My hart ys eyyn aase yt o^t,^
All care fro me ys past, 534
Now thatt Mare my wyff these birddis had ! '
For to make hir hart asse glad '
To hir wyll I in hast [Bdunu to Mary.} 537
ibdaHfwt Now rest welly Mare; my none darlyng !
Mary. Loo ! dame, I bane done thy byddyng
And broght these dowis for oure offeryng ;
Here be the bothe alyre. 541
Womon, bane them in thy honde,
I am full glade I bane them^ fond.
Am nott I a good husbonde 1
Ye ! dame, soo mot I thryve ! 545
Mabe. Now, the Fathor of heyvin that ys abowe.
He quyt yon, JosofE^ for this dede ; (55)
'Latwnnke And forthur I pray you for my lowe,
temple!' Ynto the tempnll lett vs make spede ! 549
JoMph woaid JosoFF. £y ! bloo a whyle, dame, I tlie pray !
ftwhUe.' For soft and essele men goo far.
I haue laborde all this dey ;
Yett am I vere lyttoll the nar.
I tro thatt I schall neyuer be war.
Soo full of feyre wordis these wemen be,
Thatt men thereto must nedis agre ; 556
And therefore, dame, alsoo mote I the.
Af tur my labur fayne wolde I rest ;
'GotbyMif!' Therefore goo thyselfe thow schalt for me.
Or tarre att whome wheddur {fio\x thynkist beste. 560
Bhe cannot Mare. Na^ swet husebond, ye do well kno
To goo alone ys not for me ;
Wherefore, good stV, I pray you soo
Thatt I ma haue your cuTwpany. 564
^ Manly's suggestion, S. and MS. have wold be ; H. has wold be
[thoght].
^ As two lines in H., first ending with wyff; he adds the words
[as fast]. 2 H. fnt^stittUes blith. * Bracketed in H.
PAQBANT OP THB WBAVBR8.
51
JosoPF. Loo I fryndis,^ here ma you knoo
The manor of my wyff ys soo,
Thatt vfiih hyr nedis mvst I goo,
Wheddur I wyll or nylL 568
Kow ys nott this a cii?7iburs2 lyff]
Loo ! sii-8, whait ytt ys to haue a wyff ! (56)
Yett had I* leyuer, nor to live in strylf,
Apply evyn to hir wyll. 572
For syth thai here ys no remede,
Take vp youre chylde, I sey, Mare,
And walke we tog^dur feyre and essele
And soo to stynt ^11 stry we ;
And* I woll trusse vp thys gere, [f. sa]
For I se well I mvst hit beyre.
At Jerusalem I wold all ye* were,
Also* mote I thryveJ 580
Mare. There schall we be when God wyll.
For at his plesure all thyng mvst be.
JosoFP. Dame, and thatt ys bothe reysun and skill ;
Sett forward then and lett me see. 584
[They continue in the fr<mt part of the pageant as if making
a journey. An angel appears in the temple,]
II. Anoell. Awake, Semeon, and drede the noght !
In all the hast thatt eyuer ma be.
And reysey ve that Lord thatt ail hathe Wroght,
With hym his modur Mare. 588
Make spede, Semeon, that thow were dyght
To reysey ve thatt chyld with all thy myght
Now schalt thow see the blessidist syght
Thatt eyu6r thow didist see. 592
Semeon. Lord of lordis ! this solam noyse (57)
From the Maker of heyvin and hell.
My hart therewith soo dide reyjoise,
Tiiatt the myrthe theroS can noo tong tell,
Nor hand wzt/t pen subscrybe.
* H. inserts [dere]. ' H. icrOes cumbrus ; so similar words below.
^ S. omits; H. torites [I]. * H. omits And.
* H. changes to we. * S. Alse.
' Line in later hand, Also well that ye thrive ; line as printed by
S. canceled but legible.
Tha hardship
of having a
wifo.
Tliey dejMirt.
An angel
arouaes
Simeon from
slumber.
He is de-
lighted.
52 TWO OOVENtRT CORPUS OHRISTI PLAYS.
Mid thanks I thanke that Lorde and Kyng of myght,
Thogh all my lust throgh age be worne,
Thatt I schall see this gloreose syght
Blessid be the owre thatt thow wast borne,
This (ley thai eyuer I do abide. 602
Now to reyseve this Kyng of pes
Thatt owt of dangyr schall hus reles.
Owre hy merrettis schall he incres
In joiye abundantly j 606
For here kepe I no more blis,
But thatt he marke me^ for won of his,
And then whan his swete wyll* ys,
Am I evyn redde to dy. 610
Ss clerk"'**'" -N'ow, ClarkiB, cum forth arid do your offes,
And this awter hastely thai ye aray ;
For here schal be the solamyst sacrefyce
Thatt eyuer.wasse seyne in Juda. 614
Make sure, fryndis, and^ all thatt ye may
Thatt ordur be hade in eyuere place.
Clarboi75. Now thai Lord of lordis thatt best may
To do oure devties he grant vs g?*ace !
And for to plese hym to his paye (58)
Sey al you Deo gracias, 620
* All Is ready/ Lqo ! mastur,* bothe man and place [f.9]
Be all redde at your byddyng.
beiisf'**** Sbmeon. Then, surs, cum forthe^ apase
And myrrele the bellis ryng. 624
Ane, systur, goo ye^ yriih me
For to reyseyve that prince of onowre
And hym to welcu?w reue?'ently,
Ase of this world lorde and gouernowre. 628
^JJja oomes Anb. Now, fathur Semeon, I am obey den tt,
Youre graceose pleysure for to obbey.
To serve thatt Lorde wyche ys omnipotent,
Lett vs goo mete hym on the wey. 632
^ H. brackets me and piUs it before marke. ^ jj^ inserts [hit].
' H. changes to in. * H. inserts [now],
^ H. inserts [with me"". ® H. inserts [alse]. . .
PAGEANT OF THE WEAVERS.
53
ChABECus, Mastur, now ar the bellis rong
And redde att bond ys eyuere tbyng.
Semeon. Then lett me see wiHi hart and tonge.
How myrrely thatt ye can syng. Cantant, 636
ffere the cum. dovme wxjLh. pressession^ to mete them:
Mare. Heyle, suffurent Semeon so good I .
My semelysun here I bryng to the (59)
To offur hym vp in flesche and blode, -
Asebe the law he ogbt to be. 640
Semeon. ^ow, wholle Mare and Josofif also,
Ye be ryght welcuT/i vnto this place ;
For off God ar ye blessid bothe to
Thatt hath you grondid in soche grace :
And ye, JosofE, of soo grett age 645
Thatt soche a babe forth can bryng, ,
In whom all owre reydemcion dothe hyug,
And o£E this worlde ys lorde and kyng ;
This ^ wase a graceose mareage. 649
JosoPF. Now gen till bysschope, I the pray,
Evyn the verre truth thow woldist me sey,
Ys nott this a prette bewey
Asse eyuer thow hast knone? 653
Now, be hym tha\, made both heyvin and hell^
This lyttull myte I lowe as well,
Asse thogh he were myn oone \ 656;
MaRb. Eeysey ve [him],^ Semeon, wftA good chere ; '
The law* wyll hit schall so be.
For wyche cawse I bryng hym here :
Here in thi hondis take hym the. [r.9a] 660
Semeon. Now welcuw, Lord ^ of honowr ! ^ (60)
Now welcum, Prince, vnto this place I *
\Velcu?7i, owre sufEerent Saweowre ! ^
\ .H. writes prossession. ^ S. arid MS. Thus. ^ aSo H.
* Jl. inserts\Yi\t\
^-^ S. prints vnto my hand, which is written on an erasure ; a
smudged and obliterated termination of the line has what looks like
of lionowr.
* S. omits of honowr from end of this line ; it is in different ink
and above, ' H. inverts suflferent and Saweowre.
Mary greets ^^
Simeon. ■
He bids them
welcome.
Joseph
praises tlie
ChUd.
Mary brines
him accord-
ing to the
law.
Simeon's
welcome.
54
TWO OOVSNTRT CORPUS CHBISTI FLAT&
Aniut't wri-
The elerk*t
welcome.
Simeon re-
ceives the
Child and
begins Ills
prayer.
Welcuw, the Growndr of owre groco I
Welcum, owre joie ! welcum,^ owre myrthe !
Welcum, owre graceose Gouemowre 1
Welcum to huse, thatt heyvinly flowre !
Now, blessid be the dey and owre
*0f thy gloreose byrthe !
Anb. Now welcum, Kyng of kingis all !
Now welcum, Maker of all mankynd !
Welcu9/t to hus, bothe grett and small !
Good Lord, thy sarvandis now haue in mynd
Thatt longe hath levid here.
In clenes pure wMowt offence,
With grett desyris for to be hence ;
But now the syght of thy presence
Hath amendid all owre chere.
ChABSOUS. Now welcum. Lord, vnto all hus,
Thi none tru servandis, as reysun ys ! ^
Welcum, owre God and Kyng of blys,
Owre Lorde, longe lokid fore !
All the profettis thatt of the spake
Seyd thow schuldist, for owre sake,
Fleysche aiid blod of a meydyn take (61)
Owre joys to reystore.
Sembon. On, on with me, my fryndis dere.
With this chylde thatt we haue here.
Of this worlde the lanterne clere
Of whom all lyght schall spryng !
With hoole hartis, now lett hus praee !
Thatt owre and tyme now blesse we may
That eyuer we abode thQ dey
Of this chyldis comynge. Cant ant .^ v
ffere Seineon goth to the awtere w\t\i the chyld in hys
armia and seyth:
5 Now art thow cum, Lorde, to my honde,
Thogh thatt I onworthe were ;
Yett, Lordo, forgave thi pore serwande^ —
665
669
674
678
682
686
690
694
697
^ MS. velcum; H. omits this word, ^ H. here inserts [Child],.
' H. supposes that a line is omitted here, * Qy. [Song II.]
^ MS. repeats Simeon. ® Folio 10 is missing.
PAGEANT OF THE WEAVERS. 55
[Mare.] Whyle^ the weddur ys soo feyre; [f.ii] Mary and
And I woll cum aftor asse I may, joamey
" homewards.
For now att whome I wolde we weyre. 700 i«*«»i.».
JosoFFB. To^ goo before now I woU asaye,
Tbogh thatt my fetemanscipe^ be not full gaye.
I pray God spede vs in oure jumey ; (fi^)
For I schall be were or thatt I cum there. 704
T?iere Mare and Josoff depaitis ouft of the vppex paite of
the pagand,
Semeon. Loo ! fryndls, how God for vs hathe wroght.
And schode hymself here at this tyde !
Blessid mot he be in word and thoght^ simeon
^Myghtefull Maker of thy[8]* world wyde I < 708 Lord;
I wasse lame of fote and hand, he was lame
.... in foot and
And now am whole ase ye ma see. hand and is
I thanke thatt ^ Lord of his sond, . '
And eyuer his servande wyll I be,
Thatt Lorde soo moche of myght. 713
Kow, Lorde of lordis that hath no pere,
Wyche att this tyme wase ofEurd here,
Sende you all the fruysson clere
Of his heyvinly mancion soo bryght ! 717
Clareoct^. And of owre mys he amend vs,
And from owre foys® defend vs,
And^ his hy trone he send vs.
In secida sectUorumy amen I 721
Here gothe Semeon and his Clarkis oiUqf the tempulL* Luke u.,40^.
*********
[Mary and Joseph enter the lower front-part of the
pageant,]
JosoFF. Now, Mare, my wyfE here present,
Vnto [God]^ myche bondon, dame, ar we (63)
Thatt soo goodly a childe here hath vs sent ;
In this world a feyrear t?ier canott be. 725
Mare. I thanke tJiat Lord omnipotent, Jowph «nd
-^ Mary decide
For y t dotho me good hym for to see ;
^ Repeated in MS. ^ H. changes to fote-.
» H. inserts [The]. < Rmend. by S. « H. inserts [hi].
" H. inserts [he]. ' H. inserts [to],
* Presentation in the Temple ends aivd Doctors' Play begins,
• Emend, hy H,
56 TWO COVINTRT 00RFU8 CHRI8TI PLAT8.
to im^Sm Wherofopo, Joroff, I wold he went
Vnto Jerusalem wtt/t you and me. 729.
"• *• Jjji^ For now he ys x\j yere of age,
Full well reyconid yt ma be,
Of lymys he waxith feyre and large.
And mocke he desyrith cumpane. 733
JosoPF. Now, dame, he ys a prette page it. ii sj
And, as ye sey, full well cum on.
I kno non soche on of hys age ;
I pra God make hym a right good mon. 737
Mark. Now, Jesus,^ my son, wtt^ you whatt chore f
Whatt m[y]ptlie* make ye^ chyld, this deyl
Thow art he tliatt I love most dere.
My joie, my myrthe and all my pley ! • 741
jmm !• wui- Iesus. I thanke you, my modur, in all thatt I may ;
ing to go.
And at youre hand, I am here
To do you serves, bothe nyght and dey, (64)
And redde alwey to make you chere. 745
Now, Gods blyasyng haue you and myne ! * 746
JoMph teiia JosoPP. Loo ! fryndls,* hero doth apere,
the company " i t xi
iiow obedient Yt ys cyrly Bcharp thatt wol be thorne.
always been. How glad he ys his modr to pley 86 !
And eyuer hathe byn syth he wasse borne.
Thogh thatt my vthe frome me be wome,
Yet in his dedis I have moche joie ;
For, in feythe, he woll preve evin* a prette bwey. 753
Cum, my sun, well mot thou theo ! ^
Thow schalt to Jemsalem wtt^ thi modur and me,
Swn goodly syghtis, sun, for to see
Apon this owre festefawU dey. 757
Mary wishes Marb. Now truly, Josoff, as ye soy,
for company. ^^^^ ^^^^j^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^.^j^^ ^^ ^^^^^
Sum vertuos cuwipany I wold we had.
1 S. Jhu Tiere and below, ^ Corr, by S.
8 Deleted in MS. ; glee substituted in later hand, Mawdycke's (?).
* This line inparmtheses in S. ; in footnotes in H. ; in contempo-
raneous hand btU different ink and in margin in MS.
» H. inserts [dere]. ® H. omits evin.
' S. thriv thee ; H. changes to yee.
PAGEANT OF THB WEAVERS.
57
JosoFF. Ye, dame, God shal belowre gyde.^
Dame, I kepe noo moo but evyn this lad ;
For you nor I canot be sade
Thatt dey thai we hyw see,
Mary, you kno thatt I am olde,
And in cuwipany canot be soo bolde,
Asse I wasse wont to be ;
761
764
(65) 767
Therefore, Mare, leyde ye the wey
And essely lett vs togeddr goo ;
Thogh yt be far furth on the dey,
Yett all be owre fryndis I dare wel sey,
And neuer a won owre foo.
Mare. Now, God hold^ thatt wyche best may;*
And, gentyll Josoff, lett vs goo ! 774
Be the hand the chylde wyll I leyde ;
I trust the bettur for to spede,
Ande ye,* Josoff, alsoo.
JosoFF. Ye dame, lett hym goo before ye and me,^
And* be nothyng afrayde ! 779
For the best foteman of hus thre, [f. i2]
In good feyth, dame, thatt ys hee,
Yff he were well asayde. 782
Je5Us. I am full redde vfith you to goo
At your bydding in weyle and woo,
And to do you serves bothe to,
In hart wtt^ all mekenes. 786
Cuw on, my mothur, and dred ye noght ;
And on your jurney, ase you oght.
The Fadur of heyvin that all hat[h]7 wroght.
He kepe you from dystres ! (66) 790i
*Tlielaai8
company
enough tor
me.'
Mary will
lead Jesus by
the hand.
but Joaepli
says Jesus is
the best
walker of tlie
three.
Josoff. Now, thys ys wyttele sayde and wyll ! ^
791 Joseph specu-
lates upou
^ This line in parentheses in S. ; in footnotes in H. ; as 746 in MS.
^ H. changes to wold. * H. inserts [rede]. * Soii,^ S. yo.
* S. ends line with goo and retains hardely after Ye ; H. adds
[fre] ; MS. h>as in margin as 746 : Ye, dame, let hym goo before ye
and me. " H. inserts [Mare]. ' Corr. by S.
^ H. changes to wall ; line in margin fl» 746.
58 TWO COVENTRY OO&PUS CH&ISTi PLATS.
tiM priencitir Now, Loitl, when I to myndc do coll
In vthe when I was werie small,
Many wynturs agone, — •
Lord God, henedicete I
Yong chyldur now more wyser be,
Nor wase then an olde mon. 797
[They 9et out and travel a whUeJl
Tiwjourwrj. Mark. Now welcu^n be owre Lordis sond !
Therefore cum on, gentyll husbond,
The sytte ys evyn at owre hondc ;
Good cu7//i)any there ma we fjmd. 801
JosoFF. £y ! ey ! dame, in feytli, I can noo more ;
My leggis byn were, my fete be soore.
That man thatt canot goo before
Nedis mvst cu77i behynd. 805
Ther€ (he all goo vp to the awter and leaua htfore. The
wyng an atUem,
Now, Mare, my wyff, cum hethur to me I
(Now, Mare, harke what I shall say !)^
All thyng ys done ase yt schuld be
jowph And serves song full sollamle
pniliiM tho
"wrvict, Yqx this owre fostefawll dey. 810
Mark. Now, huseband, then lett vs iij (67)
Make tho hast thai^ ma bo
Whom to goo with cumpane
To bryng vs on the wey I 814
Luke U. «-5i. There the goo done into the for pagond and leaua steylyth
awfy.
Tii«y Mjoir* JoHOKP. Maro, my spretis be ravisschid cleyne,
iliat^jii"** "^'^^ cloroly cast owt off all woo
ihfiiir"' Wtt// these solara syghtys thatt we haue seyne
In yondur tempull that we cam froo. 818
^Iare. Now, serten, Josoff, you wold not wene [f. 12]
Whatt myrthe I make wit/^owt^ woo,
Thatt my chyldo wit/i hus hathe bene
And those solam syghtis seyne alsoo. 822
* This line is entirely omitted in H. ; in margin as 746.
' H. ijiserts [made]. ^ H. v;rites witAowt[en].
PAGEANT OF THE WEAVBBS.
59
JosoFP. Then whomwarde,^ Mare, lett vs goo ^
Whyle thatt we haue the lyght ofE the day ;
For you haue eyuer lovid cumpany,
For yt dothe schorttun well youre wey.
Joseph
Bpeaks of
company oil
tlie wuy.
826
Yett in good owre we ma bothe eey,
For othur did we neyuer fynde.
Mare. Alas ! Josoff, and well-awey !
Now haue we lefte owre chyld behynd.
(68) 830
Mary misses
Jesus.
JosoFF. Whatt ! Mare, I sey amend thy chore 1
Pa?*dy 1 dame, he dothe but as othur done ;
Chyldur togedur woll draw nere,
He woll I warrand ouertake vs sone.
•He will
overt«ke us
834 «oon/
Mabb. Ou6rtake vs sone 1 quotha nay 1 s^rtes na I
Whatt nede you me soche talis to tell 1
He ys gon sum othur wey,
Or serten, Josoff, he ys not well 838
JosoFP. Dame, he ys nott far awey.
From vs no man wyll hym wyle.
Mare. Hyt helpyth not, Josoff, soche wordis to sey;
My chylde ys gone, alas the whyle ! 842
Josoff. We schall haue [hym],^ dame, or hit be longe,
Yff we serche well yondur sy tte ;
Sum chyldur there he ys amonge.
Or elis surely whomwarde ys he.
Mare. Off sorro now schal be my songe.
My chylde ageyne tyll I ma see. (69) 848
Josoff. Dame, of his welfare I wold be glade.
And of the othur I wolde be woo ;
Therefore, Mare, no more be sade,
But agene to the sytte lett vs goo.
Marb.^ Make hast, Josoff, thatt we were there ;
For had I neuer more lust thereto.
Bake agane lett vs reypeyre ;
For thatt ys best for vs to do. 856
Here Mars and Josoff goth dovme into the temprdl'tvarde. [f. is]
She is incoii'
soluble.
They will
return to the
852 city-
^ S. homwarde.
^ Supplied by S.
2 H. siibstitutes the original vjord [liye].
* iSo H., S. Josoff, inarg. in MS.
60
TWO COVBNTRT OORPaH CHR18TI PLATS.
Adtirtrtr
IhiIiU fcirtii
uiHUi IIm
IwimIIIm of
Um I aw.
T\»x are
liitlilliiK ilU-
|>uUUiiiia.
fiHT tll«>.V AH)
(Im'loiti «if
I. Doctor.. Xow, lordyugis, lystun to me a wlijle;
Wyclio Imtho tho lawis vudur Londe,
And tlmtt no man fawll in soche perell
Agenst uny artyccuU for to stand ;
For tlie comen statute of this lande
Woll that all soche pe/*souys schulde be tane
And in the face of ^ jxiple ooponly slayne. 8G3
II. Doctor. K ! and the othur wholle decryis ageyne,
"NVvoho vnto Moyses wonly wasse sent
In lubulirt of ston only to reymayne
Vndur an hy and streyte cummaiidement,
AVycho at thys tyme we thyuke couvenent (70)
Tlu»rt^-aiK>n to holde dyssepyssions* here
lUi }>olutiko syence of clarge clero. ' 870
III. Doctor. AVherofore, all peple, now draw nere
And in this place gewe your atendence.
How ye schuld ly ve, hero ma you lere
Aconlyng vnto your aleygence ;
For yt ys woll knono vnto thys presence
Thatt doctoria wo ar mifl of hy degre,
Anil hiuio the la wis in custode. 877
Till' Inw of
I. Doctor, Ley forth youre reysonis ; now lett mo see
How lawo^ of loygence oght to bo lade,
AVycho of tho Ebruys subscribyd bo
'Wiih othur of Moyses thatt now ys hade.
To contend heroin I wold be glade
Aniowge tho peplo here manofestly,
And tho trutho expownd"* to them oopinly.
[JesiLs comes in,]
884
* Peace be
among this
cumpuny I '
Iesus. Lordis, moche lowe \Yith you be lent,
And pes be amongo this cumpany !
•Runaway!* HI. DoCTOR. Suw, aWO I WOld tllOW WOnt,
For othur haft ^ in hand haue we.
888
^ K. ^inserts [the],
^ K.has (ly8sepu[ta]ssions ; similarh/ below,
* S. expoundid, H. emends [were] expc uudid.
3 H. lias lawe[s].
So H., S. and MS. host.
PAGEANT OP THE WEAVERS. 61
II. Doctor. Chylde, who-soo-eyuer the hyddur •wecammt
•^ ' " /^,v be I)Otlier!ngf
sent, (71) withchll-
The were not wyse thus wame I the ;
For we haue othur talis to tent,
Then wit^ chyldur bordyng to bee. 892
I, Doctor. Good sun, thow art to yonge to larne « Thou art too
' ./ o younjf to
The hy mystere. of Mosees law ; ^^} Moses*
Thy reysun canot yt deserne,
For thy wytt ys ^ not worthe a strawe ; . ,
And no raarvell thogh thow schuldist be rawe,
In soche hy poyntis for to be reysonyng
For of age art thow a vore yonglyng. [f. is o] 899
Iesu5. E I Surs, whatt-soo-eyuer to me you sey, He does not
need to leani
Me nedith not of you to lerne nothyng. 901 of them;
p. Doctor. This besse bweye ^ of his tong
All secrettis surely he thynkith he knois.
III. Doctor. Nay, serten, sun, thow art to yonge
Be clarge clere to kno owre lawis. 905
Jesus, Ye doctoris all, thatt be present, he knows
^ ' r > their law
Suffyce and mvse no more ofE me ; (72) already.
For ofE your lawis the wholl intent,
No-thyng tkero^ ys hyde froo me ; 909
For in those placis haue I be
Where all owre lawis furst were wroght.
I. Doctor.* Cum, sett the here and we schall Tiiey invite
' him to sit
see 1 among them.
For sarten, sun, soo semys yt noght. 913
T?iere the Doctoris settyth Cryst among them,
Now were yt nott a wondurs thyng,
Thys chylde owre reysuns that he schuld reyche 1
And yett he seyth he hath a felyng
Owre lawis truly for to teyche. 917
Ib5U5. Suris,* the whoole goste in me hath lyght,
Thatt my powar ys to preyche;
And of the Godhed most of myght
Most perfettly here ma I teyche. 921
' S. wyttys, H. inserts [ar]. ^ H. inserts [proud].
^ H. [Doctor II.], S. [Doctors]. * S. Syris.
52
TWO COVENTRY CORPUS CHRI8TI PLAYS.
* Wlienoe
caine this
chUdP'
The first
doctor re-
members the
prophecy
about babes
and suck-
lings.
P«. viU. 2.
Yet Jesus
had spolcen
too freely ;
he cannot
know their
law.
Jesus will
not debar the
truth
by silence.
Astonish*
ment.
III. Doctor. Whense cam thys chylde, I marvell
score,
Thatt speykyth to vs this mystecawUy I
Iesus. Sure, I wasse all you before
And aftur you agen schal be. 925
I. Doctor.^ Surs, ys nott this a wondurs thyug, (73)
And also a moche more mervell I
How-be-yt, surely, in his workyng,
The actis thereof ma folio right well ;
For ase Dauith in his salme dothe tell,
Be chyldur yong, seyng of them.
Ex are infancium ^ et lactancium jpev/edtfti laudem, 932
Of chyldurs mothis, ye kno right well,
God hath performyde* loving ;
But of such on hard I neuer tell,
He beyng but soo yong a thyng. [f. i4] 936
Yett, sun, suTTi-whatt thow schuldest haue let
In this place here to speyke so large ;
Where nobull doctors togeddur are met,
There chyldurs wordis ar at no charge. 940
For sure, yff thow woldist neuer so fayne,
Labur thi wyttis to leme owre la we ;
Yett art thow nodur of myght nor mayne
To perseyve thatt ase a clark ma knoe. 944
Ibsu5. My wordis in noo wyse wole I reyfrayue,
The trawthe thereby for to debaiTC ;
I woll them prove both platt and playne
Be youre one la wis, and neuer arre. 948
II. Doctor. Mastur[s] * all, whatt ma this meyne 1
I wondur score how this can be ; (74)
Soo yong a chylde haue I nott seyne
Wi\h clarkis to talke soo conyngle. 952
III. Doctor. Ase wyde in wor[l]de asse eyuer I went,
Saw I neyuer non soche before ;
But I troo amonst vs he be sent
To be the saluer of owre sore. 956
^ Later hand puts iij.
3 H. inserts [him].
^ MS. infanciom.
* Carr. by S.
PAGEANT OF THE WEAVERS.
63
Ie.9US. Suris, I woU prove be actoris evedent
Har mystereis than eyuer you red or saw.
I. Doctor. Sey, sun, wyche wasse the furst com-
mandement
Thatt wasse subscribyd in Moses la we 1
Ie5U5. Sythe all you masturs togethur be sett
And youre bokys here leyde on breyde,
Ley forthe youre reysunis and do nott lett
How right thatt ye can rede.
II. Doctor. I rede this in^ the furst byddyng,
Wyche Moses dyd rede ^ vs vntill,
Furst honor God aboue all thyng
With all thy hartt and all thy wyll,
And asse thy-self love thy neybur
And in noo wyse to do hym yll.
960
964
(75)
970
Iesu5. Ye nede noo nodur bokis to bryng ;
But these to pwyntis for to insev,
In whome the whole afecte* doth hynge
Of all owre* lawis bothe olde and nev.
974
« Which is
the first com-
mandment? '
* Honour God
and love tliy
neifi^hbour as
thyself.'
III. Doctor. Syth he these to, son, hath the schoide.
Tell me the othur, chylde, I the pra.
Ie5U5. The thryd beddith the, in any wey, [f. i4 a]
Thatt of thy labur thow schuldyst reste,
And truly kepe thy Sabett day,
Thy-selfe, thi serwande, and thy best. 980
The forthe bydithe th^ do thy best*
Thy fathur and mothur for to honowre ;
And when ther goodis are decrest,
With all thy myght thow schuldist them succure. 984
The fyfte cummandythe for any reygur
Man nor woman that tJion schuldist kyll.
To fle advltre ys anothure,®
And all thatt towchis any yll. 988
^ H. changes to is. ^ }j charigea to teclie. ' H. ^os ef[f]ecte.
* H. ^flw [y]owre. ' H. A<w [The fourthe beddith, th^ aldeibest].
^ S. another.
.Tesas recites
the other
command-
ments.
61 TWO OOVENTRT CORPUS CHRUn PLAT8L
Tlio vij^ seyifl thow schuldyst noU steyle
I1iy iieyburis goodiB, more nor les.
The viij^ forbyildyth the to cownsayle
Or to bare any fawls wyttines. (76) 992
llie ix**» forbyildyth othys grelt.
In any vrise thou schuldist nott Bweyre.
The last wold tlion schuldist no[t]^ covett
Thy neyburs goodis, Lym to apere ; ^ 996
And this Mosees, amonge vs here,'
Ilatho dcclarid amonge all men,
Aftur scripture tJiai we schulde lero,^
How to kepo those commandementis X. 1000
T!i«ii.*u»r« I. Doctor. Beholdo, owre lawis how ho doihe
expreM their
aurprite. CXpOWndc,
Thatt neuer larny[(l] ^ on boke to rede I
Then all we, he ys nioclie more profownde
In all trawthis, yff we take hede. 1004
II. Doctor. Brother, lett hym goo his weyis ;
For yff th 18 abrode were knone perfettly.
The iK'plo wolde gove him more prese
Then we** docturs for all owre clarge. 1008
III. Doctor. Ye fryndis bothe, syth yt is soo,
lie knois no ^ farthur of owre lore ;
l^ut OHHC ho cu7?^ 800 lot liym goo,
For with vs hoschall modyll no more. 1012
There aimyth Josoff a.nd Mare sekyiig the chylde and Mare
scyth :
Mary III Kront Maub. A ! dore JosofP, wliatt ys youre redde?
th?HMi! "iT*"' ^^ ^^y P^®^* ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^® > (77) :
for'lfwlul!''^** Ikly hart ys heyvo as any leyd,
My cliylde agoyne tyll I ma see. [f. i5] 1016
AVo haiio hym soght in many a stedo,
Vp and downe these deyis iij ;
And whoytlmr that he bo quyke or ded,
I do not kno thatt ; woo ys mee ! 1020
* Corr, by IT. ^ H. changes to impero. ' S. omits tvx> half
lines : amongo all mon, / Aftur scripture. ^ H. changes to ken.
* tSo II. • H. vrrites us. ^ H. changes to mo.
PAGEANT OF THE WEAVERS. 65
JosoFF. Ill sorro wasse there neyuer man more, Jowg ^^^^
But mornyng ma nott ytt amend ; S^um^*^"*
Mare, wyfF, lett vs therefore
Take the grace that God woll send. 1024
YfE chyldurs cumpany he haue coght,
Abowt yondur tempnll he ys full right.
[They tv/m toward the temple."]
Mare. A I Josoff, I see that I haue soght ! ^ary sees
In this worlde wasse neuer soche a syght. 1028
See, hugebond, where he syttyth aloft
Amonge yondur masturs soo moche off myght.
JosoFP. Now blessid be hym^ thatt hethur vs
broght,
For now in hart I am full lyght ! 1032
Mare. Josoff, ye kno the ordur well, ow Sm*?**^
Goo ye and feyche youre chylde and myne.
Now I see hym owt of all pe77ll, (78)
Whom he schall with vs j^yne.^ 1036
Josoff. Ey ! Mare, wyff, ye kno ryght well, ^^f^ ^^«»
Asse I haue tolde you many a tyme, d^tore.''*
With men of myght durst I neyuer mell.
Loo ! dame, how the sytt in there furis fyn ! 1040
Mare. To them youre arand for to sey,
Therein, Josoff, ther ys no perell ;
The haue reygardid you alwey
Because of age, this wott I well. 1044
Josopp. To them, wyff, whatt schulde I sey 1
In feythe, I do nott knoo full wele.
Surely, I schall be schamyde to-dey ;
For I cane nothur croke ^ nor knele. 1048
Mare. Then goo we theddur bothe to
To them that sytt soo worthe in wede ; SSuffim.
Yff ye woll not the arrande doo.
No reymedy but I mvst nede. 1052
^ H. changes to he. ' H. substitutes go hyne.
' S. troke, corr, emend, by H.
C. C. PLAYS. p
66
TWO OOTBSTTET OOftPCS CHU8TI PLATS.
Druftrlica
He moct
fulfil bit
8h«doeiinoC
oiiilrratantl,
but she i«
very iclad to
liAve found
him.
Jetus bids
farewell to
the doctora.
*Tu80FF. £ ! dame, goo tell them fki tale futst ;
For lyke tho}i art to do thatt dede. (79)
I wold tell luyne and I dunt,
[I come be-hynde] also €rod me spede.^ 1056
[Tkef go up toward tke tUtar.}
^Iarb. a ! lefiu, letuSf my sun soo swete^ cc u«3
Thy gooyng froo me soo suddenly
I lathe cawsid vs butlie for to wepe
With byttur teyris abundantly. 1060
Thyn olde fathur here ami I
For thy sake, sun, hathe lykyd full yll.
Owre yis the were but seldum dry,
But now thatt we ar cu;/< the tylL
IesU5. Modur, why did you seek me soot 1065
Hyt hathe byn oft seyde vnto you,*
My Fathurs wyll I mvst fullfyll
In eyucrc* pwynt, for well or woo.* 1068
Mare. Sun, these talis thatt you me tell
Aso yet I canot vndunstaud ;
But my hart, this kno I we]l,
Ys were glade I haue the fonde. 1072
I. DocTOB, Xow truly, dame, no mervell ys
Thogh thow in hart were full woo
To lose soche a divide asse this. (80)
How long, wytf, hathe he byn thee froo I 1076
Mare. Syr, yt ys now these dayis iij,
Sy th that he departid f urst fro me ;
I am full [glade] * here hym to see
Alyve wtt/iowt* woo. 1080
Iesu5. Now farewell, masturs of myght arid mayne !
For with my modur now must I nede
For to reycomford hyr ageyne,
Wyche soo longe for me hath levid in drede. 1084
^ Bracketed words supplied from Y 248; following this line Ui
MS. is a line erased aiid illegible : My place . . . this tyme . . .
behynd.
* H. writes you untill. • Contraction for er.
^ H. rea/rramjges according to Y and T : My fathurs wyll for well
or woo / In eyuer[y] pwynt I must fullfyll.
'^ Corr. fty S. * H. torites wtt^owt[eD].
PAGEANT OP THE WEAYBBS. 67
I. Doctor. Now thatt Lorde of lordis be thy spede^ They invite
Where-eyuer thow goo in any quost ! ^
But yff thow wolt tarre, thow schalt^ not nede
Any moro to put thy fryndis to cost.^ 1088
III. Doctor. How seyhst thow, fathur, for thy
goo[d]* wyll,
Wolt thow grant thi help thyre-tyll, . P. i6]
Awey thatt he do not goo 1 1091
Josopp. Noo, StV, in good feyth, that I nyll, Joseph and
M&ry object.
Nor neyuer forgoo hym be my wyll,
Nodur for frynde nor foo. (81) 1094
A long whyle we have hym myst.
And gone he wasse, or thatt I wyst ;
But hade I hym wonis be the fyst.
He schall noo more doo soo I 1098
Mare. Now, lordyngis, of your curtesse,
Do^ ye nott wyll my chylde fro me ;
For W2t^ my wyll yt schall nott be,
Whyle thatt owre lyvis last. 1102
I. Doctor. Then yt is noo bote for to intreyte. More fiure-
Thy chylde I see I canot gete ;
I tro yt be but wast to speyke,
Thatt tyme I thynke ys past. 1106
Iesus, Now lordyngis all, with youre lysence,
Good tyme yt ys thatt we were hence ;
I thanke [you]* of youre hy sapence
Thatt I wit^ you haue hade. 1110
II. Doctor. Now, sun, when-eyuer thow cumyst ^/lis invitation to
' ' y " o(»ne again.
wey,
Be bold of hus, I the praye.^
YfE thow to age lyve may.
Thy fryndis ma be full glade. 1114
Mare. Now farewell, lordis of hy degre ! (82)
I take my ley ve at you all three ;
Thatt Lorde thatt ys in Trenete,
He kepe you all from care ! 1118
1 H. alters to chest. « So H., S. schult ; MS. votoel illegible.
» H. alters to quest. * Corr. by 8. • So H., S. De.
^ Supplied by a, ^ CoTUractionfor ra.
68
TWO COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS.
The weather
is fair and
they depart
for Nazareth,
first taking
leave of the
company.
The doctors
comment
Josopp. And for the fynxiyng of this oure suij,^
In heyvynis blysse thatt we^ ma wone,*
And geve you well to fare.
1121
Now, cum on, Mare, YfiiJi myrre chere,
And brynge youre chyld with you here ;
At Nazarethe now I wold wee weyre.
Mare. Sir, in good tyme wee schall cum there ;
The wey and weddur and all ys feyre,
Whereoff am I right fayne. 1127
JosopPE. In this place why le we ar here, [f.wa]
Loke thatt we haue all owre gere,
Thatt we cum nott agayne. 1130
1133
Mare. Josoffe, husebonde, we myse nothyng ; *
But at youre wyll lett vs be gooyng
Asse fast ase eyuer we can.
Ande now att all this cumpany.
My ley ve I take and that full humbly ; (83)
Vnto thatt Lorde most myghty
Now I betake you eyuere mon. 1137
JosoppE. Now farewell, my fryndis all !
For I mvst goo whatt-eyuer befall ;
Nedis mvst that nedis schall.
Be me here may you kno.
A ! thatt all you ma vse thatt weyis.
At all tjmis youre wy vis to pleyse ;
Then schall you awoide moche dysees.
God grsmt thatt you ma do soo !
1141
1145
[They go out]
I. Doctor. Now, ye lordis thatt hathe the lawis to
leyde,
Marke well the wordis thatt hathe byn seyde
Be yondur chylde of wysedome grett, 1148
^ A line seems here to he omitted.
^ H. supposes the line omitted here,
^ H. supposes that a line is here omitted.
H. changes to ye.
PAOEANT OF THE WEAVERS.
69
Wyche at this tyme amonge vs here
Declarid owre lawis be clarge clere,
Wyche be his actis dothe apere,
Thatt of God he ys eylecte ! 1152
II. Doctor. Now surely yt can no nothur be,
For lie ys nott levyng thai eyiier see
Soch hy knoleyge of exselence
In 800 tendur vthe ; 1156
For in owre moste hyist dysspecionis,^
To them he gawe tni solyssionys, (84)
And also made exposysionis
Acordyng to the truthe. 1160
III. Doctor. Ys not thys a wondurs case,
Thatt thiB yonge chylde soche knolege base ?
Now surely he hath asposschall ^ grace,
Soo hy dowtis desemyng ; 1164
Thatt we wyche nobuU docturs be,
And gradudis gret of old^ antequete.
And* now on this place vfitli yonge ^ infance [f.i7]
Ageyne ar sett to larnyng. 1168
I. Doctor. JSTow, bredur^ bothe, be my consell
These myghtte matters you sett on syde.
And in avoidyng of more pe^'ell
Thatt here-apon myght betyde ;
Therefore lett vs no lengur abyde
In these cawsis for to contende.
For iMs dey ys almost at an yende. 1175
II. Doctor. Now, brethur bothe, syth yt ys soo,
Ase vere nature dothe me compell,
Here my trowthe I plyght you to
In hart for eyuer vfiili you to dwell. 1179
III. Doctor. Now, masturs all, be won assent, (85)
All owre matters reyjurnyd be,
Tyll thatt a dey of argument
^ H. torites dysspu[ta]cionis. ^ H. writes a spesschall.
^ H. omits old. * H. oinits And. * H. omits yonge.
® S. brodur.
upon the
wisdom of
the Child.
TheT set the
mighty mat-
ters aside
until another
time; .
70 TWO OOVKXTRT CORPUS OHBISn PLATB.
^fa bo apwyntyil indyffereDtle ;
tiM oMimoii. Whore alH you,* the comefialte,
i»w!mt*tiMii. You 'i^ de|)arte on this condyssion,
Thatt ye atende at the next monyssion. 1186
I. Doctor. Now, fryndis, tochyng owro festefall dej,
Ys there oght els thai I ma sey t
II. Doctor. Xo more now, bate evyn awey.
For the nyght drawls fast apon. 1190
III. Doctor. And of youre cumpany I wold you pra.
And here 1 take my leve at eyaere mon. 1192
Tys matter nevly translate be Robert Croo in the
yore of oure Lord God M^v«xxxiiij*«, then beyng meyre
Mastur Palmar, beddar ; and Rychard Smythe an[dj'
[Ilerre]* Pyxley masturs of the Weywars; thys boke
youdido the soycond day of Marche in^ yere above seyde.
[Song I.]* [f.i7a]
Thomas Iklawdycke. (86)
Rejoyce, rejoyco, all that here be 1
The Angell these tythyng[s]^ hath browght,
That Simion, before he dye,
Shalle se the Lorde w7/ich all hathe wrowght ; 4
Wlierefore now let vs all prepare
Owre temple that yn order be !
For he hathe put awey owre care,
The Seoonde Persone in Trinitye. 8
Rychard.
[Song II.] 7
Beholde, now^ hit ys oome to pase,
That manye yeros before was tolde,
How that Christ, owre ryght Messyas,
By Jwdas scholdo be bowght and solde ! 4
^ II. transposes all aiid you.
* H. inserts [teche] and ends sentence with this line, ' So H.
* Supplied by S. ^ H. inserts [the]. * In late hund,
^ In contcinporancous hand, but unlike MS. ^ S. how.
PAGEANT OP THE WEAVERS. 71
For owre offence he man became,
His fathers wrathe to pacyfye,
And after, mekely as a lamb,
Vpon the crose there dyd he dye. 8
Lorde ! as thon hast bowght v«^ all,
And suffryd at Mownt Callverye,
Recownfort v«^ bothe gret and small.
That yn thy trewth we lyve and dye I 12
James Hewyt.
^ CofUractum/or us.
72
hlxtmrtsfrom the Coventry Led Book}
1424 (Oi't. 25). AVovers . . . Item. Arbitrati sunt et ordina-
viTUiit ipKnl (lii'ti joriufytncu ct eorum quilibet solFet dictis
iiiii^iMtris aniiuatiiii in futuro qiiatuor denarios ad opus de le
pii^fiii oiiruiultMu, ct <|iio(l ipHi lu jorueymen haheant cum magia-
triM Huirt ])otii(*ioiiniu hIvo collectiouem [sicut] antea consuenint^ etc 5
f 07
1127 8 ((yonv. St Paul). Hit is to baue in mynde that at a
1«*ti* lioIdiMi atto fcMt mtynt Midi, the //er off kyng Herre the sixt
i\w vij i\us HiuythoM of Coventro put up a bille foloweng in thes
witnlcM : 'i\i you full wuraliipfull nieir, recordour, bayles, and to 10
all your dirio.mto oounsell she wen to you tlie craft of smythes how
thoi wt^ro (liHchar^ed of the cotelers pachaud be a lete in the tyme»
of ilohn (lote then nieirt^ and (^uytances made be-twene the for-
med crafUm eder to oder, lik m hit is well knowen and redy for to
NlioW(t, and nowe hiU^CiiloH Allesley in his office of meyralte preyed 15
tlu« forst^id cnaft of Sniythcs to tak the goveniaunce of the seid
piu'hand an for his tyine and no forthcr. And the seid craft did
iiit wi If idly to hiH pKu^aunce for the whiche cause the forseid
jMirhand in y^A^^ put to the forseid craft, and thoi han no nianer of
i\\iU\ to tak hit to lioni ; wycho tliei besecho that ye of your grete 20
goodnt^M dJHrhar^o i\n\ foi>seid craft of smythes of the pachand
attt* hMiortuii'o of (Jod and of trutho, and ordon hit elles where ye
Imn bot.t(M' avinnd Ixt your f^ood discression.
The whicho biir*' bo the aviseof all tlie wurthy of the seid lete
and all odor upon thesajne lete beong was onsuered and endo[r]sed 25
in this wino : Hit is onloyned that the smythes slialP ocupie the
Ht»id piichnntl forthe tmery yero apon the payne of x^^ to be payd
at ouorv tlt^l'auU^ to thtn use of the chambur. — f. 45 h.
ll^il (K). The oriliMi tiiat the sadelers and the peyntours of
tht» oity »»f (*ovontre U\ fro this tynie forward contrebetory unto 30
tho paiont of the oanlemukera ; and that they paye as the carde-
' A (^i/f^m/cir of' /itutlSf Chnrhrrs^ etc., in the MuniinerU-room of SL
M,ntf\i tiiift, (\nvnii'!/, .).(!. JouiriVHon. Covoutry, 1896. A 3. Leet Books
{n) M I loll. V. -I iiiiii '2 Philip iiiid Mjiry. Afod 0/ the following extracts are
;/n«i»/i »»!' ivfViTt'ii to in S/ittrp'a DiMHorlatioii, pp. 4, 8-11, 43-5. Insignificant
lunmtions fi'oin Sfuirps t,:t't fuitv. iu)t Urn notal. (E.) Easter Leety (M.)
Mirtnitifntiis Lf-f-t.
'■' .1/.V. I»nll. ^ .1/6'. hhull.
APPENDIX I. 73
makers don yerly uppon the peyne of C s to be payd to the use
of the chamburlens. — f. 88 b,
1435 (M.). Thei will that the carpynters be associate unto the
tilers and pynners to maynten her pagent and her ly very that now
5 is ; and that the maior call the substance of the crafte of carpynters
and sett hem to-gether as one felawshipe. — f. 82 b.
1441 (E.). Ordinatum est quod Eobertus Greene et omnes alii
qui ludunt in festo Corporis Xpisti bene et suficienter ludant, ita
quod nulla impedicio fiat in aliquo ioco sub pena xx s cuiuslibot
10 deficientis ad usus muros levanda per majorem et camararios,
etc.— f. 102 b.
1443-4 (C.S.P.). For-alsomoche as the crafte of cardemakers,
sadelers, masons, and peyntours of the cite of Coventre be long
tyme y-past haue byn as oone fellauship in beryng costys charges
15 and all other dueties of old tyme to ther pagont and to the said
felauship longyiig. And now late that is to say in the tyme of
Ric. Braytoft maior of the said cite, the said felauship for certen
causes among hem movyd wer lyke to departe and to breke the
felauship wherfor certen peraons of ^ the said craftes, shewyng to the
20 maiour the causes of ther grevance, besought hym in this matter to
sett due remedye. And so by <<oodly leysur the maior, callyng
a-fore hym and his counsell all tlie said hoole fellauship, rehersid
unto them the grevouse complayntes that wern made to hym by
certen persons of the said felauship. The for-namyd felauship
25 willyng to be ^uled compromytted hem to abyde the rule and
ordynaunce of the meyr and his councell. And so by advyse of the
said nioyr and his councell, hit is ordeynyd that the said iiij craftes
shalbe oone felauship beryng costes, charges, and all other dueties
to her pagent and to ther felauship longyng. And that thei shall
30 yerely chose new masturs a-pon saynt Thomas day in Xpmas weke
in the forme and maner folowyng : That is to say, ther shalbe of
every of the said crafty s iij men in a place consuette within the
said cite ; and ther in in the fest of Saynt Thomas thai shall chose
of every of the said iiij craftes oone master for the yer folowyng.
35 And if so be that any of the said craftes a moneth afore the said fest
be reasonable cause unfayned may excuse hyme that thei may not
be at that eleccion of the masturs at the said feste. That then the
crafte or the craftes that may nott be ther shall bryng in iij menys
names of the crafte that may not be ther at the eleccion and what-
40 soever the iij personnes with other that shalbe a-pon the eleccion
doo, thei that ben awey to agre ther to, and also sone as the
masturs be chosen that same day or thei departe the new masturs
so chosen shall take that consuett othe. And allso every person of
the said craftys shall pay yerely to the masturs xijd and all other
45 dueties, customes, and laufull charges that long to the pagent and
to the said felauship and all money that shalbe reryd [b] for
1 MS. of of.
74 APPENDIX I.
mak jng of now brethren or cIs in other waia to the ciaf tes renaed,
OA liit is gadreil hit shalbe put in a comen box ther to be kepte to
tlio use of the said felaoship and to the warship of this cite.
AlUo every mastur of the eeid iiij craftes shall bane dae coneo-
cion of of his own crafte of all the priue poynts thai long to his 5
craftc, without medalyng or entermettyng of any vther ciall^
Allso tliat thcr shall no man of the said ii^ craftes play in no pagent
on Corpus Xpi. day save onely in the pagent of his own crafte^
without he have lycence of the maior that shalbe for the yer. All-
so tliat every man that hath any money of forfetts that have byn 10
made or els money for makyng of bredren afore this tyme in the
said craftes that hit be brought in be-twen this and the f est of All
Saynts next comyng, and that to the maior. And also that all
the masturs of the said felauship that have not accompted a-foie
this tyine that thay mak ther acompte be-twene this and the feat 15
of All Saynts next comyng and all the arereage, if any be, that
hit be brought in the same day and delyveryd unto tiie comen
box. And allso that all masturs that now byn and all the
masturs of the said felauship that shalbe heraiter yerle, shall
make thcr acompte, every mastur for his tyme at the fest of 20
Esiur. Provyded allwey that the crafte of masons, ne none of
hem, shall not be charged to com to noo buryeng, weddyng, ne
oifryng of the said crafts on workodais. And who of tiie said
felliship disobeith this ordynaunce, or forefettyth in any of them,
shall pay at every forfett x li to the maior of the cite of Coventre, 25
that tyme beyng withouten any grace.
Nomina consilij maioris in hoc casu : (list). — f. 109 a and b.
1457. (Tfie king came to Coventry on) Fryday the xj of
Fovyore the yere reynyng of kyng Herry the sixt the xxxv*' . . .
The queue (margin). On Corpus Xpisti yeven at nyght then 30
next suyng came the quene (Margaret) from Kelyngworth to
Coventi-e ; at which tyme she wold not be met, but came prively
to so the play there on the morowe ; and she sygh then ile the
pageutes pleyde save domes-day, which myght not be pleyde for
lak of day. And she was loged at Richard Wodes the grocer, 35
where Kic. Sharp some-tyme dwelled ; and there all the pleys
were furst pleyde. At which tyme the meyre and his brethem
sonde unto her a present which was sich as here suyth : That is
to wit, ccc paynemaynes, a pipe of rede wyne, a dosyn capons of
liaut grece, a dosyn of grete fat pykes, a grete panyer-full of pes- 40
codes and another panyer full of pipyns and orynges and ij
cofyns of connfetys and a pot of grene gynger. And there were
with her then these lordes and ladyes that here folowen : That is
to sey, the duke of Bukkyngham and my lady his wyff and all
thor childorn, the lord Eevers and my lady hys wyf, the lady of 45
Shrowesbery the elder, and the lady of Shrowesbery the younger,
with other mony moo lordes and ladyes. And the Friday then
next suyng she removed to ColshuU to her met© and so to Eculsale
APPENDIX I. 75
to the prynce; at which tyme the seid meire and his brethern
with right a good f eliship of the seid cite, which plesid her highnes
right well, brought her to the utmast syde of theyre fraunchise
where hit plesyd her to gyff them grete thank bothe for theyre
5 present and theyre gentyll attendaunce. — ^f. 173 6.
1460 (E.). Also hit is ordeyned that every craft that hath
pagant to pley in, that the pagant be made redy and brought furth
to pley, uppon the peyn of C s to be reased of iiij maisters of the
crafts that so oflPend. — f. 182.
10 1474 (E.). Hit is ordened at this present leete that every crafte
with-in this cite com with their pageaunts accordyng as hit haith
byn of olde tyme, and to com with their processions and ridyngs
also, when the byn required by the meir for the worship of this
cite [upon the] peyne of xli. at every defalte. — ^f. 227 h,
15 1493 (Apr.). Also hit was ordeyned at this present lete that
• the tallowe chaundelers shuld be unyed unto the craft of smythes,
accordyng as hit hath be ordeyned be lete aforetyme, which they
no we conferme uppon the peyn of every singler persone of the
seid tallowe chaundelers that refuse this order nowe confermed to
20 lese C s to this city, and his body to prison till he so will do. — f.
270 6.
1493 (Oct.). It. They ordeyned at this lete that the chaunde-
lers shuld pay yerely to the smythes ij s towards their paient. —
f. 271.
25 1494 (Apr). Also hit is ordeyned, as hath be ordeyned and en-
acted bd dy vers letes in tymes past, that the chaundelers and cooks
of this cite shall be contributory to the smythes of this cite and to
pay yerely towards the charge of ther preste and pageant, every
chaundeler and cooke ij s ; every man faylyng of such payement
30 to lese at every tyme xl s and to have enprisonment till he paye the
seid ij s with the arrerages in that partie, if eny be, and the seid
peyed; the mair for the tyme beyng to haue a noble thereof,
and the craft of smythes another noble, and iiij nobles to the
wardeyns of the cite to the use of the cite. Provided that no
35 such persone which their wyfe occupie making and sellyng of
candell be constrayned to be master or keper with the smythes in
no wyse. — f. 272 6.
1494 (Apr.). For-asmoche as the unyte and amyte of all citees
and comenaltees is principuUy atteyned and contynued be due
40 ministration of. justice and pollytyk guydyng of the same ; for-
seyng that no persone be apprised nor put to forther charge than
he convenyntly may here and that every persone withoute favor
be contributory after his substance and facultees that he useth to
every charge had and growyng for the welth and worship of the
45 hole city ; and whereso it is in this cite of Coventre that divers
charges have be continued tyme oute of mynde for the worship of
the same, as pagants and such other, whech have be bom be
dy vers crafts whech crafts at the begynnyng of such charges were
76 APPENDIX I.
more welthy, rich, and moo in nombre then nowe be, as openly
appereth ; for whech cause they nowe be not of power to continue
the seid charges without relief and comfort be shewed to them in
that partie ; and inasmoch as there be dyvers crafts in this cite
that be not charged with like charges ; as dyers, skynners, fysshe- 5
mongers, cappers, corvisers, bochers, and dyvers other. Therfor hit
is ordeyned be this present lete that the mayre and viij of his
counceill have auctorite to call all the seid crafts and other that
be not charged for the seid charges and them to adioyn to such
crafts as be ouercharged with the forseid pagants uppon peynes be 10
hym and his seid counceill to be sette. And if eny persone refuse
such unyon and contribucions, or such resonable measne to be
taken be the discrescion of the seid mayre and his counceill, such
persone so refusing to forfet and paye such peyn in that partie so
tojbe sette be the seid mayre and his counceill. And that such 15
resonable measne in the premisses so to be taken be the seid mayre ■
and his counceill to be of ^ like force and effect as yf it had be
made at the present leto. — f. 273.
1494 (M.). "Where hit was ordeyned at the laste lete that such
crafts that were not contributory to the crafts as here yerely 20
charge in this cite to the worship of the same shuld be unyed
and adioyned to the crafts so charged be the discrescion of the
maire and his coimceill, which ordenaunce hath not be put in
execucion caused be dyvers self-willed persones whech be their
willes wold obbeye no other rule ne ordre but after their owne 25
wiUes grounded without reason, which may not be suffred yf
this cite shulde prosper and contynue in welth. Hit is therfore
ordeyned at this present lete that all maner crafts and persones
occupying eny crafte within this cite not beying charged to eny
yerely charge that is had and made in this cite for the worship 30
of the same, as paiants and such other, that they, betwixt this and
the fast of Seynt Martyn next comyng, of their toward-lovyng
disposicion applye them-self to joyn and unye themself or to be
contributory to other craft that is charged, as is aforseid, in relief
of their charge ; which their so dbyng shall principally please 35
God and contynue the gode name and fame that this cite hath
had in tymes past. And that every craft and persone that woU
not of their goode willes be the seid f est applye them to such unyon
as is aforerehersed, that then such persone and crafte that refus-
yng obbeye, stand, and performe such order and direccion of the 40
maire and his counceill in that partie to be ordred and made, uppon
the peyn of every persone and craft that disobeieth to lose at the
first refusell C s, at the ij**® x li, and at the iij^® xx marc. —
f. 273 Ik
1494 (M.). Also it is ordeyned, at the same lete, at the 45
request of the inhabitaunts dwellyng in Gosseford strete, that the
pageants yerely frohensfurth be sette and stande at the place
there of olde tyme used and lymyt.appoyntod, uppon payn of
APPENDIX I. 77
every craft that doth to the contrary to lese at every defalt
vj 8 viij d to the use of the cite, to be levyed and paide. —
f. 273 h.
1494-5 (Jan. 12). Memorandum. That the feliship and mys-
5 terye of bochers in Coventry, remembryng the ordenaunce lately
made be auctorite of lete for contribucion to be had and made
be such crafts as be not charged to such ordinary charges and costs
as be yerely made and boren f or the worship of this cite, callyng
also to theyr mynde the olde acqueyntaunce and amyte that of
10 long tyme hath be and contynued, be measne of entercours and of
bying and sellyng, betwixt them and the feliship of whittawers,
whech be overcharged to the charges above rehersed; and for
their relief in the premisses, at Coventre aforeseid the xij*^ day of
Januare the x**^ yere of the reign of our soveraign lord king
15 Henre vij**^ in the presence of Robt Grene then beyng maire,
were agreable and ther graunted to here and pay yerely frothens-
furth to the said feliship of whittawers towards the 2/erely charge
of their paiant as long as they there shalbe charged with the said
paiant xvj s viij d be the hands of the keper and maisters of the
20 seid feliship of bochers to be paide to the kepers and masters of the
seid feliship of whittawers yerely iiij s in the vigill of the Holy
Trinite withoute ferther delaye, without eny other or ferther
charge or besyness be them to be made or doon to the seid feliship
of whittawers. — f. 273 ?;.
25 1495 (Apr.). Also hit is ordeyned at the petieion and desire of
the craft of cardmakers towards their charge that they yerely here in
kepyng their pageant that the crafts of skynners and barkers shall
yerely frohensfurth here and pay to the seid craft of cardmakers
xiij [s] iiij d in the forme suyng : That is to sey, the maisters of
30 the erafte of skynners and the maisters of the barkers shall 2/erely in
the vigill of the Holy Trinite pay unto the maisters of the card-
makers, either of them, vj s viij d, and yf eyther of the seid crafts
fayle of payement at that day, they and every singler persone of
either of the seid crafts, that payement denying, to lese at every
35 default vj s viij d, and in default of payement, their bodies so for-
fetyng to be commyte to prison their to remayn unto the tyme
they have paide that fyn and over that to fynde suerte that eft-
sones he shall not defende in that partie. — f. 275.
1495 (Apr.). Also hit is ordeyned, etc, at the petieion of the
40 erafte of wrights and tylers and pynners that these persones whos
names here followen shalbe ioyned and contributory to the erafte
of wrights frohensfurth for ever, and to pay and here yerely after
their poeion as other wrights doo towards the charge of their
pageant, uppon the peyn of every person doyng the contrarie to
45 lese at every defalt vj s viij d, and in defalt of payement of that
peyn, their bodies to prison till they have paide hit and over that
fynde suertee that he eftsones offende not in that partie. These
be the names : John Okley kerver, Kich. Percy wright, John
78 APPENDIX I.
( -okkoH Wright, Xicliolas Slough cartwright, John Norton whele-
wriglit, aiul John Kuyght wheiewright. — f. 275 b.
1495 (Apr.). Also where hit was shewed at this present lete be
bill put in bo the girdolers that the crafte of cappers and fullers of
thoir giHKlo will were agreable to paye in the fest of the vigill of 5
tho Holy Trinito to the masters of the crafte of girdelers ^rely
xiijs iiijd towanls the charge of their preste and pageant eie.
Hit was ordoyncd and stablisshed be auctorite of this present lete
that that agremeut and acorde shuld stande stable and to be per-
fornunl & kept for frohcnsfurth for ever, with more that yf paye- 10
niout yorcly he not made in this seid vigill then every person
that ilonyoth such (uiyement to lese at every defalt vj s. viij d with
iuiprisoninout, as is abovesoid in the crafte of carpenters. — f. 275 6.
1507 (Apr.). Memorandum. That it is ordeyned at this lete
that tho craft and feliship of bakers shalbe contributories and 15
chargtHl from honsforth with the craft and feliship of smytbes and
to |Miy ^roly to them toward theyre pagent at Corpus Xpisti tyde
xiy s iiij d, and so to continowe from hensforth yerely. — f. 297 6.
It in. It is ordoued at this present lete that the felisship of
corvosers sludbo contributory and chargeable with the crafte of 20
tanners yerly from hensforth and to pay xiij s iiij d, and to begyn
theyre payment of the hole at Corpus Xpisti tyde next comyng,
and so forth yerly at every Corpus Xpisti tyde to pay xiij s iiij d.
— f. 297 b.
It. It is ordened and agreed that from hensforth the feliship 25
and crafte of bochers shalbe yerly contributorye to the felyship of
whittawers toward ther pagent at Corpus Xpisti tyde xyj s viij d,
and 80 to continue yerly forthlyke as they dydde afore, etc. —
f. 297 b.
1524 (Apr. 12). Item. It is enacted that so long as the crafte 30
of shomakors fynde and keip ther priest, thoy shall reteyne and
keipe in ther hands to ther own use yeirelie the mark of money
whiche they were wont to paye yeirely by act of leete to the craft
of tanners, and provided alwayes that the said craft of shomakers
shall pay unto the said tanners at Corpus Xpisti tyde next ensuyng 35
vj s viij d. — f. 339.
1526. Item. It is enacted that all carvers within this citie
frome hensfurth shalbe associat with the craft of peyntors
and that every carver shall pay yeirelie to the peyntors towards
the charges of their pagiaunt xij d without contradiction upon 40
peyn for every defaut to forfett vj s viij d to the seid craft of
peyntors, and that the said carvers frome hensfurth shalbe dis-
myssed and discharged frome the craft of carpenters, and that
Richard Tentvyntor shall pay such arrearages to the carpenters as
he oweth theme for the xij d which he shuld haue payed theme 45
yeirelie in tymes past. — f. 344 b.
1529 (Apr. 8). Itm. It is enacted at this lete that the crafte of
cappers of this citie frome hensfurth shalbe owners of the wey vers
APPENDIX i. 79
pagiaunt with all the implements and apparell belongyng to the
same pagiaunt, and that the seid craft of weyvers shall ycirelie
f rome hensfurthe pay unto the master of the seid crafte of cappers
vj s viij d ; and so the seid craft of weyvers frome hensfurth to be
5 clerlie discharged of the seid pagiaunt and of the name therof. —
f. 350 h,
1531 (Oct. 2). It. Wher as the company, feliship, and craft of
cardemakers and sadelers of this citie meny yeires and of longe
continuaunce have hadd and yet haue the cheif rule governaunce
10 repairyng and meyntonaunce, as well of a chappell within the
parishe churche of Seynt Michells in the seid citie, named Seynt
Thomas Cappell, and of the ornamentes, jueUs, and lightes of the
same, as also of a pagiaunt with the pagiaunt house and pleyng
geire with other appertenaunces and apparells belongyng to the
15 same pagiaunt. The meyntenaunce and reparacion wherof haithe
been and is yeirelie to the greit charge, cost, and expenses of the
seid company and crafte, beyng now but a fewe persones in nomber
and havyng but smale eyde of eny other craft for the same. So
that ther said charge is and like to be more ponderouse and
20 chargeable to theme then they may convenyentlie here or susteyii
in shorte tyme to come, oneles provision for a remedy may be
spedilie hadd. In consideracion wherof and for-asmoch as the com-
pany, feliship, and craft of cappers within this citie, now beyng in
nomber meny welthy and honest persones, and have maid dyvers
25 tymes sute and request unto the meire and his brethem the alder-
men of this citie to have a certeyn place to theme assigned and
lymyted, as dyvers other crafts have, to sitt to-gether in ther seid
parishe churche to here ther dy vyne service and here suche charges
for the same as by master meire and his brethern the aldermen
30 shalbe assigned ; it is therefor by the mediacion of Mr. Eichard
Kice now meire of this citie and of his seid brethern the alder-
men at this present lete assembled and by auctoritie of the same
with the agrement, consent, and assent of all the seid parties, com-
panyes, and crafts, enacted, ordeyned, and constituted that the
35 seid company and craft of cappers frome hensforthe shalbe associat,
joyned, and accompanyed with the seid crafts of cardemakers and
sadelers in the governaunce, reparyng, and meynteynyng, as well
of and in the seid Chappell, named Seynt Thomas chappell, and of
the ornaments and lights of the same, as of and in the seid pagy-
40 aunt [b] and pagiaunt house with the implements, appertenaunces,
pleaers, reherces, and pleyng geire accustumed, belongyng and
necessarie to and for the same, after suche maner or better as it
haithe been used and accustumed before tyme. And that every
housholder or shop-keper of every of the seid companyes and
45 crafts toward and for the charges and exspenses aboveseid shall
not onelie pay yeirelie to the maisters and kepers of the seid
crafts at such tyme and day as the seid crafts shall appoynt xij d ;
and upon Seynt Thomas day, named the Translacion of Seynt
80 APPENDIX I.
Thomas, shall also offere yeirclie every of theme j d at the high
masse seid in the seid chappell. But also the seid maisters, com-
pany, and crafts fromehensfurthe shall applie and hestowe to and
upon the seid reparacions and charges all the revenues, rents, and
profitts of all soche lands, houses, and tenements as they or eny of 5
theme now have or herafter shall have to the use and behove of
the seid companyes and crafts ; and the viij s of yerelie pencion
which is yeirelie payed by the peynters and carvers unto the seid
charges shall yeirelie be payed and go to the same charges. And
that the seid maistors now electe and hereafter to be electe maisters 10
of the seid crafts shall yeirelie, upon suche a day as the seid
maisters shall appoint and agre accompeny theme-selfa to-gethers
and bryng in and make a true and a full accompt every of theme
to the other of all ther seid receites, revenues, and profittes. And
the seid charges and the charges of the kopyng of hames belong- 15
yng to the seid crafts with the weiryng of the same in the watches
and other necessarie charges and busynes for the seid crafts
allowed, payed, and performed, the overpluse of the seid money of
the seid revenues, profitts, and money shalbe bestowed and put in
a box with two locks and two keyes, the on key to remeyne with 20
the masters of the craft of cardmakers and sadelers, and the other
key to remeyn with the maisters of the craft of cappera, sauelie to
keip the seid money in the seid box untill they have nede to
bestow it upon the seid charges or otherwise, as they shall tliynk
convenyeut; and the seid box to remeyn in the said chappell 25
fastened with a cheyne.
Also it is enacted by the auctoritie and consent aforseid that
the maisters and compeuy of the craft of cappers shall fromehens-
furthe femyliarlie and lovynglie accompeny and sitt togethers in
the seid chappell with the seid compeny and craft of carde- 30
makers and sadelers to here ther divyne service, and also shall
go togethers in ther processions and watches too and too togethers;
and that the seid compeny and craft of cardmakers and sadelers
shall hauo the preemynence and overhaude in ther sittyngs and
goyng together oon yeire, and the seid craft and compeny of 35
cappers shall lykewyse haue the preemynence and ovorhande in
ther sittyng and goyng the other yeire, and so continue frome
yeire to yeire lovynglie fromehensfurthe ; so that the seid carde-
makers and sadelers shall not lack ther rome nor sittyng in the
seid chappelL — f. 357 a and 6. 40
1531 (Oct. 2). Itm. It is enacted also that the company and
craft of barbars of this citie shall yeirelie fromehensfurthe pay
unto the company and craft of gurdelers of this citie vj s viij d
toward ther charges of the pagyant and processions at suche
day and tyme as they were wont to pay the seid some unto 45
the craft of cardmakers, upon peyn every of theme to forfeit
for ther defaut xij d to be levyed by distresse to the use of the
citie. — f. 358.
APPENDIX I. 81
Itm. It is also onacted that the compeny and craft of walkers
of this citie shall yeirelie pay unto the company and craft of weyvers
vj s viij d towards the charges of ther pagyant at such day and tyme
as it hathe be wont to be payed. And that the company and
5 craft of skynners shall likewise pay unto the seid craft of weyvers
yeirelie v s towards ther seid charges. — f. 358.
1532 (May 14). Itm. It is enacted that the craft of peynters
shall pay yeirelie fromehensfurth iiij s of the viij s that they wer
wont to pay to a pagiaunt unto the craft of gurdelers and the other
10 iiij s of the seid viij s unto the craft of cardemakers. — f. 359 h,
1533 (May 6). Also it is enacted, that such persones as be not
associat or assistant to eny craft which is charged with eny pagiant
of this citie, as fishemongers, bowyers, flechers, and suche other,
shall now be associat and assistaunt to such crafts as the Mr.
15 Meire shall assigne and appoynti theme. — f. 361.
• 1537 (Apr. 24). Item. Wher as the meire, aldermen, beileffs,
and cominaltie of this citie by ther wrytyng indented and seaUed
with ther com en seall have graunted, given, and dymysed unto the
master, kepers, fraternitie, and company of the craft of cappers of
20 this citie the chappell, pagyaunt, and pagyaunt house which was
latelie surrendered and given upp by wrytyng to theme by the
fraternitie and company of cardemakers and sadelers. It is nowe
enacted by auctoritie of this lete that the seid fraternitie and
company of cappers shall enjoy the seid pagiaunt, pagiaunt house,
55 and chappell accordyng to the tenour of the seid wrytyng
indented, etc. — f. 368 b.
1547 (May 3). Item. It is also enacted that the cowpers of
this citie shall fromehensfurth be associat with the tilers and
pynners and here suche charges as thei haue doon in tymes past ;
•30 and that the cowpers shalbe the hedd and cheffest of theim and
stand charged with the pagyaunt. — f. 400.
C. C. PLATS.
82
Rtcords and accounfn of the trading companies of Coventry .
refer rimj to the CorpUii Christ i Piatj.^
Smiths* Company.^
(13) Charadera.^ God (Jesus), Caiaphas, Herod^ Procula
(Pilate's wife), headle (or porter), the Devil, Judas, Peter and Mal-
clius, Anna (or Annas), Pilate, Pilate's Son, two knights, four
tormentors, two princes.
(14) Machinery i dresses^ etc.^ The cross with a rope to draiv 5
it up and a curtain hanging before it, two pair of gallows, four
scourges and a pillar, gilding the pillar and the cross, scaffold,
fanes to the pageant, mending of imagery (1469), a standard of
red buckram ; two red pensils of cloth painted and silk fringe,
iron to hold up the streamer; four gowns and four hoods for the 10
tormentors (afterwards described as jackets of black buckram,
with nails and dice upon them), other four gowns with damask
llowers, also two jackets party red and black, two mitres (for
Caiaphas and Annas), a rochet for one of the bishops, God's coat
of white leather (six skins), a staff for the demon, two spears, 15
gloves (twelve pair at once), Herod's crest of iron, scarlet hoods
and a tabanl, hats and caps — straw hats, cheverel (chevelure,
|)eruko) for God, three cheverels and a beard, two cheverels gilt
for Jesus and Peter, faulchiou for Herod (gilt), scarlet gown,
maces, girdle for God, a newe sudere to God vij d, a seldall for 20
God xijd., sceptres for Herod and his son, poll-axe for Pilate's
son, (15) blue buckram 5 yds. and 6f yds. sat tin purchased in
1501 *; velvet hose were sold in 1590 at the breaking up of the
pageant. Mimic, 1584 (only), trumpet and bagpipe; minstrels
is a common entry, and the waits are paid for " piping." 25
* Mainhj reprinted from Sharp's Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries
(vul from the hUrw faction to the Ahhotsford Club edition of the Weavers*
Pagoant. Kiimhrrs in parenUheses refer to pages in SIiarp*s Dissertation ;
irfttn pnrcded hy A,^ to the Ahhotsford Club edition. H,'P. refers to
Halliirfll-PhiUips, Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare, 7th edition, from
irhich nomr records hare been quoted. Graphic signs have been put in ordinary
letters. Direct quotations from Sharp are preceded by Sh.
" »S7/. Tho accouiitH of this (.'onipany commence in 1449. . . 1585 [was]
the lafit yrar of their exhibiting.
^ Hharp*H list.
* Sh. . . . the latter appears to have been used for Herod's gown, and
most probably the buckram also.
APPENDIX II. 83
(15) Agreement,^ 1452-3. These men above writen wer
acordid and agreed on Munday next befor Palme Sonday, anno
H. (6th) xxxj., that Thomas Colclow, skynner, fro this day forth
shuU have the rowle of the pajaunt unto the end of xij yers next
5 folowing, he for to find the pleyers and all that longeth therto all
the seide terme ; save the kepers of the craft shall let bring forth
the pajant and find clothys that gon abowte the pajant and find
russhes therto. And every Wytsonweke who that be kepers of
the crafte shall dyne with Colchow and every master ley down
10 iiij d., and Colchow shall have ^erely for his labor xlvj s viijd
and he to bring in to the master on Sonday next after Corpus
Xpisti day the originall and fech his vij nobulle^ ; and Colchow
must bring in at the latter end of the termes all the garments
that longen to the pajant as good as they wer delyvered to hym.
15 This was ordeyned in the time of Will. Melody, Th. Warner, and
WiU. Byngley, then kepers of the crafte.
Specimen of Pageant Expenses, Entry for 1490. This is
the expens of the furste reherse of our players in Ester weke ;
inprimis in brede iiij d, it.^ in ale viij d, it. in kechyn xiij d, it. in
20 vynegre j d ; summa ^ ij [s] ij d.
(16) It. payd at the second reherse in Whyttson-weke in brede,
ale, and kechyn ij s iiij d. — Inprimis for drynkynge at the pagent
in havinge forthe in wyne and ale vij d ob, it. in the mornynge at
diner and at sopper in costs in brede vij d ob, it. for ix galons of
25 ale xviij d, it. for a rybbe of befe and j gose vj d, it. for kechyn
to denner and sopper ij s ij d, it. for a rybbe of befe iij d, it. for
a quarte of wyne ij d ob, it. for an-other quarte for heyrynge of
Procula is gowne ij d ob, it. for gloves ij s vj d, it. spend at the
reparellynge of the pagantte and the expences of havyng it in and
30 furthe xiiij d, it. in paper ob. ; Summa xij s j d ob.
Mem.* payd to the players players for Corpus Xpisti daye;
inprimis to God ij s, it. to Cayphas iij s iiij d, it. to Heroude iij s
iiij d, it. to Pilatt is wyfEe ij s, it. to the beduU iiij d, it. to one
of the knights ij s, it. to the devyll and to Judas xviij d, it. to
35 Peter and Malkus xvj d, it, to Anna ij s ij d, to Pilatte iiij s, it.
to Pilatte is sonne iiij d, it. to an-other knighte ij s ; Summa
xxviij & ; the mynstrell xiiij d.
Mem. that these bene the garments that wer newe reparellyd
a-gaynste Corpus Xpisti daye; inprimis iiij jakketts of blake
40 bokeram for the tormentors with nayles and dysse upon them, it.
other iiij for tormentors of an-other suett wythe damaske flower?,
it. ij of bokeram with hamers crowned,^ it. ij party jakketts of rede
and blake, it. a cloke for Pilatte, (17) it. a gowne for Pilattes sone,
1 Sh. A similar agreement was made in 1481 with Sewall and Ryngald.
* itiTi a^id below, sometimes it*.
* Sflia and below,
* Md arid below.
** Sh. The arms of the smiths* company is three hammers crowned.
84 APPENDIX II.
a gowne for the bedull, it. a liodo for the bedull, it, twoo burlettis,
it. a create for Heroude, it. a fawchon for Heroade, a hatt for
Pilatte, a hatt for pilatts sone, it. ij myters for the byBSchoppis, it.
ij liatts for ij princes, it. iiij hatts for the tormentors, it. other
ij hatts for the tormentors, it a poll-ax for Pilatts sone, it. a 5
septur for Heroade, it. a masse, it. a septur for Pilatts sonne, it. iiij
scorges and a piller, it. ij cheverels gyld for Jhe and Petur, it. the
devyls hede; the somme of all the costes and workemaoschyp
and colours drawyth to xv s.
(18) The Pageant} 1578. ij new berars of yron for the seyt 10
in the padgand. (19) 1440, it. p. cloth to lap abowt the pajent,
payntyng and all iij s vj d ob.^
1471, expens for bumeysshyng and payntyng of the fanes to
the pageant xxd; 1553,^ it. payd for payntyng of the pagent
tope xxij d.* 15
(20) Scaffolih for spectators. Making of a new post to the
scaffold, tryndyll and theal to ditto, two new scaffold wheels
6s. 8d., iron pins and colters to tlie scaffold wheels, boards aboat
the scaffold, three boards and a ledge for the scaffold, clamps and
iron-work, setting in of the pageant and scaffolds, driving the 20
pageant and scaffolds.^
Moving of the pageant, Stations.^ 1450, spend to bryng the
^ Sh, ... we may form some idea of the appearance presented by the
smiths' pageant by a consideration of the following items : thus, the cross
was painted and gilt ; there is a cliarge for setting np the ''mortys of the
crosse " and for a piece of timber to it ; also a rope to draw up the cross,
and the cloth that hangs before it. The pillar to which Christ was tied
when scourged was also painted and ^ilt
'^ Sh, These cloths were obviously hung round the pageant vehicle, so
as to conceal from the eyes of the spectators the lower room in which the
performers "apparelled themselves, as well as the machineiy underneath
the " rowme," or stage of action ; such as the hogsheads in the new pageant
of this company, the windlass which in the cappers' pageant had three men
to attend on it and in the drapers' had a rope three fathom long, the
apparatus for representing the earthquake in the drapers' pageant, and hell-
mouth, etc. There are constant charges for nails, tenteriiooks, rings, wire,
thread, small cord, and similar articles, which of course were used for the
curtains and in the machinery and dresses. See also H.-P. II., 289 ; 1569,
** halfe a yard of Rede Sea " 6d ; 1565, (** theatrical appliances of another
company ") three paynted clothes to hang abowte the pageant ; (2 Edw. VI.),
payd for makyng of the hooke to hang the curten on iiij. d. Some of the
pageant accounts include payments " for curten ryngus."
3 ff.^P, 1554.
* Sh, , , , the use of pencils or streamers, oi both, may be discovered
in all the remaining accounts. They were also icsed in processtoiis,
* Sh. , , , the usual charges are for having out of the pageant, setting
the scaffolds ; and setting in of the pageant and scaffolds to the pageant-
house after the performance was over.
* Sh. The smiths' was usually "dryven" by a number of men not
specified. It appears that the first station of this pageant was in Gosford
street, and as that is the first ward in point of precedency, it seems very
probable that all the pageants commenced playing there ; another was at
Much Park street end, most likely the corner of Jordan Well, in which case
A third was at New Gate. See Introdiodion,
APPENDIX II. 85
pagent in-to Gosford stret; 1471, expens at Mikelparke strete
ende for ale to the pleyers x d, it. at Richard Woodes dur for ale to
the pleyers vd; 1486, it. for ale at the New Jate jd ob; 1497,
it. for the horssyng of the padgeant xijd; 1498, it. payd for ij
5 cords for the draught of the paygaunt j d; 1562, it. for settyng
the padgandc yn the first place vj d.
(21) Rehearsals?' 1466, it. in expense at the rehers in the
parke iij d ; 1576, pd for Sent Marye hall to reherse there ij d,
spent on the comyanye after we had hard the second reherse ij d,
10 1579, pd to the plears rehersyng in the Palys^ xij d ; 1584, payde
the players at the last reherse in Seint Nicholas hall iij d.^
Dresser,^ 1474, pd for sweepyng the pagent and dressyng
vij d.
Ale and wine,^ 1450, it. payd for a pynt of wyne for Pilatt
15 jd; 1480, pd for a quart red wyn for Pilat ijd; 1494, it. in
expence on the pleares for makyng them to drynke and hete at
every reste iij d.
Men altout tlie pageant 1469, it. for iiij jaked men about the
pagent iiij d ; 1564, pd for a chassyng stafhed 6 d.^
20 The oath of the masters of the company : They swear to ** kepe
unto the uttermasse all suche laudable customs as pagans, quart-
rage, weddings, burings, and such other like thinge as hathe be in
timis past usyd and customyd."
(22) Annual pageant pence,^ 6. Edw. VI., resey ved of the craft
25 for pagent pencys iij s iiij d.
Jouimeymen. 13. Hon. VII., Rides of the Smiths' Company:
Also that they wate upon the hede mayster upon Corpus Xpisti
daye to goo upon prossession, also to wate upon the maysters
and attende upon the pageaunt to the worsshipe of this cite and
30 the craf te ; in like wyse to wate upon the maisters of the craf te
and so likewise to goo upon wache on Myssomer ny3ht and
Santte Peter ny3ght.
(26) Charactei's. God, 1451, it. payed for vj skynnys of
whit leder to Godds garment xviij d, it. payed for makyng of the
35 same garment xd; 1490, it. a cheverel gyld for lh§; 1498, it.
payd for mendyng a cheverel for God and for sowyng of Gods
kote of leddur and for makyng of the hands to the same kote
1 Sh, Aunnal rehearsals (usually two in number) took place before the
respectire companies.
a Sh, The ^* palys " was the bishop's palace, part of which was rented by^
the company for their quarterly and occasional meetings. The smiths*
company had their annual dinner on St. Loy's day in St. Nicholas Hall.
^Sh. A person was appointed dresser of each pageant.
* ah, ... ale was given both to the players and drivers. Pilate bein^ the
principal character in the smiths' pageant, the performer was allowed wine.
* Sb. conjectures that these entries rrfer to officials stationed in the street to
prevent intrusion hy the spectators. He says thai no such charge occurs in the
accounts of the other companies,
* 8h, This varied from 2s. 2d. to 3s. 4d. and sometimes more.
86 APPENDIX II.
xijd; 1501, it pd for a newe sudere for God vijd; 1553, it.
payd for v schepskens for Gods coot and for inakyng i\j 8 ; 1560,
it for a selldall for God xij d ; 1565, pd for pajrntyng and gyldyog
(inter alia) Gods cote, pd for a gyrilyll for God iij d.
Caiaphas and Annas. 1486, it. for a tabarde and an hoode 5
[the hire of] iiijd; (28) 1487, it paid for hyryng off a skarlet
lood^ and a raygete^ for on off the bisshoppis vd; 1499, it.
payde for colours and gold foyle and sylver foyle for ij myttyis ;
1544, payd for a bysschops taberd of scarlet that we bowght in
the Trenete Church x s. 10
(28-9) Ilerod.^ 1477, it. to a peynter* for peyntyng the
fauchon and Herods^ face x d. It for assadyn, silver papor and;,
gold paper, gold foyle and grene foyle ij s j d, it for redd wax
ijd, it payd to Thomas Suker for makyng the crests xxijd;*
1478, it for assaden for the harnes xd; 1480, expense for a slop 15
for Herod {inter dlia)^ pd for peyntyng and dressyng Herads
stuf ijd; 1487, it for mendyng of Arrodes crast xij d ; ^ 1489,®
it paid for a go wen to Arrode vij s iiij d, it paid for peyntyng
and steynyng® ther-off vj s iiij d, it payd for Arroddes garment
peynttyng that he went a prossasyon in xx d^^ ; 1490, a fawchon, 20
a septur, and a creste for Heroude repaired; 1494,^^ it payd for
iij platis to Heroddis crest of iron vj d, it. payd for a p^per of y'
aresdyke xij d, it. payd to Hatfield for dressyng of Herods creste
xiiy d ; 1499, it. payd to John Hatfelde for colours and gold foyle
and sylver foyle for the crest and for the fawchen {inter (di(i)\ 25
1501, it. for vj 3ards satten iij quarters xvj s xd, it. for v ^ardus
of blowe bokeram ij s xj d, it pd for makyng of Herodus gone
XV d ^2 .1515^ it. payd to a peynter for peyntyng and mendyng of
Herodes heed iiijd; 1547, pd to John Croo for mendyng of
Herrods^^ hed and a myter^^ and other thyngs ij s; (-ff.-P. II. 290) 30
1554, payd to John Hewet payntter for dressyng of Erod hed and
the faychon ij s.
^ Sh, wood [hood]. ^ Sh. adds [rochet].
3 Sh. points Old tfuU the smiths* pagcatU followed S. Luke 23. 6ff,
* H,'P. x>eyntour. ^ H.-P. Herodes.
^ Sh. The (last three) items antw 1477 follow each other in the account
book. They relate to the omamentiug of crests, of which most likely
Herod's was one ; no other instances of crests occur in the smiths' pageant
accounts. Two would therefore probably belong to the knights, who would
be clad in armour, of which the company had three suits.
' ^S'^.. Many similar entries occur in subsequent years.
8 H.-P. 1490.
• H. -P. peynttyng and stenyng.
^® Sh. (164). By this and the preceding item (1476, it. for hors hyr^ to
Herod iij d), it appears that the cnaracter of Herod . . . joined the (Corpus
Christi) procession, being the only instance of this nature that has been
observed.
" H.-P. 1495.
^^ Sh. (30). A satin gown (probably) blue was provided for this character,
whereas in other instances a painted dress suflBced.
^^ H.-P. menddyng of Herrode. " H.-P. my tor.
APPENDIX II. 87
Additional items concei'ning Herod,^ 1490, item paid for
mendyng off Arrodes gauen to a taillour viij. d ; item paid for
mendyng off hattes, cappus, and Arreddes create with other smale
geyr belongyng iij. s; 1508, item paid for colour and coloryng of
5 Arade iiij. d,
(30) Pilate^ 8 toife Procula,^ 1477, it. for sowyng of dame
Procula wyff shevys iij d ; 1478, it. for mendyng of dame Procula
garments vijd; 1487, it. to reward to Maisturres Grymesby for
lendyng off her geir for Pylatts wyfe xij d ; 1490, it. for a
10 quarte of wyne for heyrynge of Procula is gowne i j d ob; 1495,
Eyngold's man Thomas thatt playtt Pylatts wyff ; 1498, it. paid
to Pylatts wyffe for his wages ij s.
Beadle or porter,^ 1480, expense for a jaket for the by dull
{inter alia); 1490, it. a gowne for the bedull, it. abode for the
15 bedull, repaired.
(31) Two knights,^ 1449, it. ij spears iiij s iij d.
The devil,^ 1451, it. payd for the demons garment makyng
and the stof v s iij d ob, it. payd for collyryng of the same
garment viij d ; 1477, it. for mendyng the demons garment (inter
20 alia), it. for newe ledder to the same garment xxij d ; 1490, it.
the devyls hede (repaired) ; 1494, it. paid to Wattis for dressy ng
of the devells hede viijd; 1498, it. paid for peynttyng of the
demones hede (inter alia); 1567, it. payd for a stafe for the
demon iiij d.
25 Jvdasfi 1572, pd for canvys for Judas coote ij s, pd for the
makyng of hit xd.
(32) Peter J 1490, it. a cheverel gyld for Petur.s
Malchus, 1477, the performer received 4d.
Pilate,^ 1480, pd for mendyng Pilats hat iiijd; 1490, it.
1 H.-P. II. 290.
^ Sh, Few traces of her dress are to be discovered ; and it appears to
have been considered of little importance, as not one new article of apparel
belonging to her has been noticed.
^ Sh, Only two items occur applying to his dress.
* Sh, conjectures that the knights wore armour with which of course the
s^n'&hs toere well provided. As two or three suits were used at the Mid-
summer-eve processions, the expenses of cleaning and repairing it might occur
in that connection rather than here. He appropriates to them also two
crests and the two spears of the entry,
^ Sh, The devil in the Smiths' pageant had a dress made of leather and
coloured in all probability black ; ne had also a painted vizor, which was
frequently repaired or new painted, and a staff.
^ Sh, The following {entry for 1572) is all that appears respecting his
dress. In conformity with the well-known popular belief that Judas had
red hair and beard, there can be little douot of this character being so
represented in the mysteries. In the enumeitition of articles belonging to
the pageant, we find ** 3 cheverels and a beard," besides those for Jesus and
Peter, which were gilt.
^ Sh, A single entry decisively belonging to this character is all that
occurs. Sh. rcTnarks thai 4rf. was paid to the performer in 1477.
® Sh. conjectures thai Peter also wore a gown and a heard,
^ Sh. Few traces of his dress are discoverable. The performer was paid
88 APPENDIX II.
a cloke for Pilatte, it. a hatt for Pilatte (repaired) ; 1494 it. paid
for brabaiid to Pylntts hate v d and for canvas ij d ob.
(33) Pilate's son. 1490, it a gowne for Pilatts sone, it. a
bait for Pilatts sone, it. a poll-ax for Pilatts sonne, it. a septur
for Pilatts sonne. 5
Tormentors, 1451, it. payed for makyng of iiij gownnys and
iiij bodds to tbe tormentors and tbe stof that vrent therto xxiiy a
xd ob; 1490. Mem. that these bene the garments that wer
new reparelleyd a-gaynste Corpus Xpisti daye: inprimis iiij
jakketts of blake bokeram for the tormentors with nayles and 10
dysse upon them, it. other iiij for tormentors of another
suett wythe damaske flowers, it ij of bokeram with hamers
crowned,* it ij party jakketts of rede and blake; 1501, it.
for makyng off iiij jaketes ij s, it for iiij ellne cloth for the
jakkets and the hatts xviijd, it jkI to the pajrnter for hys 15
warkemonchipe xxj s vij d.^
(34) Tico Princes, 1490,* it ij hatts for ij princes (repaired).
(35) Miscellaneous, 1489, mendyng of hatts, cappis, with
other smale geyr iijs; 1490, it twoo burlettis (repaired); 1494,
it. t>aid for a strawen hate ob, a leffe of roche clere jd; 1497, 20
payntjrng of the players hamys xx s ; 1499, it. for colours and
gold foyle and sylver foyle for iiij capps {inter alia); 1501, it.
for borro?ryng off a skerlet gone and a cloke ij d, mendyng the
massus ; 1564, it payd for iij cheverels and a horde xij d ; 1584,
it payd for ij beards vj d. 25
Gloves, 1477, it xij peyr glove^ to the pleyers xviij d, (under
the head soluciones ad le pleyers) inprimis to Jh's for gloves and
all xxijd^; 1505, pd for a dos* off whyght gloves xijd, pd for
ij payr off reed gloves viij d.
Paintin(j faces, 1498, it paid to the peynter for peyntyng of 30
ther f asses viij d.®
Music,'^ 1451, it payed to the mynstrells viijs,^ it spend on
mynstrells dinner and their soper on Corpus X.pisti day xxd;
1471, it paid to the waytes for mynstrelship vjs; 1477, it paid
3s. 4d. in 1477 ; afterwards it was advanced to 4s. being the highest sum
paid in this pageant.
3 Sh, Perhaps these dresses might be appropriated with more proba-
bility to the two princes.
' Sh. r&niarks that these charges are relatively very great referring to
the miscellaneotis e^Ury for 1497.
* Sh, , , , this is the only . . . occurrence.
' Sh. points out that the garment worn by that character had gloves of the
same material attached to the sleeves,
• Sh, It is evident that those characters which were not played in masks
or visors, as was the case with Herod and the devil, were represented with
the faces of the performers painted. Indeed many other similar entries
occur.
■^ Sh, In general the entries of this portion of expenditure are confined to
the following items (1451, 1471, and 1477).
' Sh, Two and sometimes three are specified as the number of minstrels.
APPENDIX II. 89
to the wayts for pypvng v s ; 1549, it. payd to the waytes for the
pagent ij s viij d ; 1554 (164), pd to the mynstrells for prosessyon
ij d and pageants ij s vj d.
(36) The play 'hook, 1494, it. paid to John Harry es for beryng
5 of the orygynall that day vj d^ ; 1495, payd for copyyng of the
ij knyghts partes and demons ; 1506 (15), resevyd amonge bredren •
and other good felowys toward the orygynall ijs ixd^; 1563, it.
to Robart Croo for ij leves of ore pley boke viij d.
Additional it&nis referring to the pageant, dress, etc.* 1462,
10 item expende at the fest of Corpus Christi yn reparacion of the
pagent, that is to say, a peyre of new whelys the pryce viij.s,
item for naylys and ij. hokys for the sayde pagent ij. d, item for
to have the pagent ynto Gosford strete xij. d?; 1467, item in met
and drynk on mynstrelles and on men to drawe the pagent xxij. d ;
15 1470, item rysshes to the pagent ij.^, item clampys of iron for the
pagent viij. d, item ij. legges to the pagent and the warkemanship
withall vj. ri; 1471, expenses to brynge up the pagent into Gos-
ford strete amonge the feliship viij. d, expenses for burneysshyng
and peyntyng of the fanes to the pagent xx. d, item cloutnayle and
20 other nayle and talowe to the pagent and for waysshyng of the
seid pagent and ruysshes vj. d oh, item at bryngyng the pagent
owt of the house ij. d, item nayles and other iron gere to the
pagent viij. d oh, expenses to a joyner for workemanshipp to the
pagent vij. c?; 1480, item for havyng furth the pagent on the
25 Wedonsday iij. d, item paid for ij. peyre newe whelis viij. s,
expenses at the settyng on of hem vij d, item for byndyng of
thame viij d, paid to a carpenter for the pagent rowf vj c?; 1498,
item for the horssyng of the padgeantt and the axyll tree to the
same xvj. d, item for the hawyng of the padgeantt in and out and
30 wasshyng it viij. d ; 1499, item paid for ij. cordes for the draught
of the paygaunt j. d, item paid for shope and gresse to the whyles
j. d, item paid for havyng oute of the paygant and swepyng therof
and havyng in and for naylles and ij. claspes of iron and for
mendyng of a claspe that was brokon and for coterellis and for a
35 bordur to the pagaunte xix. d?; 1547, paid for dryvyng of the
pagent iiij. s iiij d, paid for russys and soop ij. (i ; 1554, item payd
to payntter for payntyng of the pagent tope xxij. d; 1570, paid
for laburrars for horssyng the padgang xvj. d, spent abowt the
same bessynes xvj. d, for takyng of the yron of the olde whele
40 X. d, paid for poyntes and paper iij. d ; 1572, paid for canvys for ''
Jwdas coote ij. s, paid for the makyng of hit x. d, paid to too
damsselles xij d, paid for a poollye and an yron hoke and mend-
ynge the padgand xvj. d, paid for cowntters and a lase and
pwyntes for Jwdas iij. cZ; 1573 {new play), paid for pleyng
^ Sh, In 1491, a certain writing is called in their accounts **the new
rygenale."
^ Sh. adds in sums of Id. and 2d. each.
» H.'P, I. 338-41.
90 APPENDIX II.
of Petur xvj d, paid for Jwdas parte ix d^ imid for ij. damsylles
xij *ff paid to the deman vj. /^, paid to iiij. men that brjng yn
Herod viij. tf^ paid to Fastoim for hangyng Jwdas iiij. d, paid
to Fawstoii for coc-croyiig iiy. <Z, paid for Mr. Wygaona gowne
viij. '^; 1574, Paid for pleynge of Petur xvj. d, paid for Jwdas 5
ix. d^ paid for ij. damselles xij.^^, paid to the deman vj. d^ paid
to iiij. men to bryng yn Herode viij. d, paid to Fawston for
liangyng Jwdas and coc-croyng viij. (?, paid for Herodes gowne
viij. ^/; 1576, a payment of 18d. "for the gybbyt of Jeaae";
1577 {netc j*^ai/)y **for a lase for Jwdas and a corde" 3d.; (old 10
pageant) paid to the plears at the fyrst reherse ij. 8 vj. (f, paid
for ale iiij. d, paid for Sent ^Earye Hall to reherae there ij. d,
paid for mendyng the padgan<l howse doro xx. d, paid for too
]K)ste3 fi3r the dore to stand upon iiij. d, paid to the carpyntur
for his labur iiij. ^/, paid to James Beseley for ij. plattes on the 15
post cndes vj. d, for great nay lies to nayle on the hynge ij. d, paid
to vj. men to helpe up with the dore vj.cf; 1578, {new play)
paid for the cokcroing iiij. d^ paid to Thomas Massy for a trwse
for Judas ij. a viij. dy paid for a new hoke to hange Judas yj. c?,
paid for ij. new berars of yron for the new seyt in the padgand 20
vij d.', 1502,^ item paid for gloves to the pleyares xix d, item paid
for pyntyng off ther fasus ij d ; 1548, payd to the paynter for
payntyng the players facys iiijd.
SniMs* New Play,^ 1573, pd for pleyng of Petur xvj d, i>d .
for Judas parte ix d, pd for ij damsylls xij d, pd to the deman 25
vj d, pd to iiij men that bryng yn Herod viij d, pd to Fawston
for hangyng Judas iiij d, pd to Fawston for coc croyng iiij d,
pd for Mr. Wygson's gowne viijd^; 1576, for the gybbyt of
Jezie xviij d ; (37) 1577, for a lase for Judas and a corde iij d;
1578, pd for a trwse for Judas ij s viijd; pd for a new hoke 30
to hange Judas vjd; 1579,** pd for a gowne to the tayllers and
sheremen x d.
Destruction of Jermdlem, a new pageant performed 158.4.^
Items from the charges attending the rehearsals'. It. payd to
Cockram in earnest for to playe on his bagpypes iiij d, it. payd to 35
1 H..P. II. 290.
- SJi. lu 1573, after the usual entry of payments to performers and
other expences of the pageant as heretofore, a short break occurs, and in
the margm is written *' New pley," after which follow these items. Mast of
these iteins are given in the preceding paragraph also.
^ Sh. This was a gown belonging to Sir William Wigston, as appears
by other entries, and was frequently borrowed by the smiths for their
pageant. The charge of 8d. is for wine given in return for the use of the
gown, which was worn by Herod.
* Sh. This new performance was continued (except in 1575 when no
play was exhibited) until 1580, and seems to have been acted after the old
pageant. During the years 1580-3, the smiths did not exhibit their
pageant.
^ Sh. No less than six rehearsals took place previous to the public
exhibition of this new pageant.
APPENDIX IL 91
a trumpeter in earnest at Seynt Nycholas hall iiij d, it. payde to
John Deane ^ for takynge paynes abowte the pageant ij s ij d.
Literal copy of the €nti*y of expenses : Expencys and pay-
mentes for the pagente : Inprimis payd to the players for a
5 reherse ij s vj d, it. payde to Jhon Grene for wrytynge of the
playe-boke vs, it. payde to the trumpeter for soundynge in the
pagent v s, it. payde to hym that playde on the flute ij s vj d, it.
payde to Jhon Foxall for the hyer of Irysshe mantylls viij d, (38)
it' gyvyn to the dryvers of the pagent to drynke iiij d, it. payde
10 for sope for the pagent wheles iiij d, it. payde to Cookeson for
makynge of a whele to the skaffolde viij d, it. payde for a iron
pynne and a cotter for the skaffolde whele iiij d, it. spent on the
companyo on the pley even ij s viij d, it. payde to WilFms for
makynge of ij payre of galleys ij s (Under the head othe)*
l^ paijnentes and exspences ... it. payde for lace for the ij payre
of galleys xv d,^), it. pd for the masters breakfast on the playe
daye xx d, it. pd for the players drynke to the pagent ij s, it. pd
for starche to make the storme in the pagente vj d, it. pd for
carryenge of our apparaill from pagent to pagente vj d, it. pd for
20 drynke for the muji3ions ij d, it. pd to Hewette for fetchynge of
the hogges-headds vj d, it. pd to the souldyers for waytynge on
the captaynes ij s, it. pd for a pottell of wyne to the pagente x d,
it pd to the mu3icions for playenge on theyre instruments in the
pagente v d, it. pd for the Mos/er and the players sowper viij s vj d,®
25 it. pd to Jhon Deane for hys dyner sowper and drynkynge xij d,
it. pd for russhes packthryd and tenter hookes viij d, it. pd to ij
drumme players x d, it. pd to the dryvers of the pagente iij d, it.
pd to Hewet for his paynes ix d, it. pd to Reignolde Headley for
playenge of Symon and Phynea v s, it. pd to Gabryel Foster for
30 playenge of Justus Ananus Eliajar and the chorus vj s viij d,
it. pd to Jhon Bonde for playenge of the capteyne Jhoannes and
and the chorus vj s viij d, it. pd to Willm Longe for playenge of
Msyers Jacobus Hippenus and the chorus vj s viij d, it. pd to
Jhon Hoppers for playenge of Jesus and Zacharyas iij s, it. pd to
35 Henry Chamberleyne for playenge of Pristus, a pece ^ of Ananus,
and Zilla iij s iiij d, it. pd to Jhon Grene for playenge of Mathias
and Esron ij s, it. pd to Jhon Copestake for playenge of Esron
his parte xx d, (39) it. pd to Lewes Pryce for playenge of Niger
his parte xvj d, it. pd to Frauncys Coccks for playenge of Solome
^^ xij d, it. pd to liichard Fit^harbert and Edward Platte for
playenge chyldren to Solome xij, it. pd to Xpofer Dygbye fox his
ij drummers vj s viij d, it. pd to the awyntyente berer xij d, it.
pd to Robert Lawton for kepynge of the booke ij s, it. pd to
^ Sh, John Deane was the company's sumner.
* Sh, suggests these were merely tressels to support the pageant fioor,
» Sh. 8.
* Sh. apeco.
92 APPENDIX II.
Edmund Durrant for payntynge ij s, it. pd to Thorn's Massye for
the temple and for his beardes iij s ; Som is vli iij s vij d.^
Pageant and jHujeant-house sold. 1586, it. reed of Mr. Pyle
for the pageante howse xx s, it. reed of Henry Bankes for the
pageant zl s. 5
In 1591 the smiths i}aid imtead of performing. 1591, it.
payd to Mr. Mayor towards the playes of the pageantes xx s.
Addii tonal Items ^ concoming the Pageant- House, 1571, paid
for a lode of cley for the padgyn howse vj. d, paid for iij. sparis
for the same howse vj. d, paid to the dawber and his man 10
xiiij. d, paid to the carpyntur for his worke iiij. c?, paid for
a bunche and halfe of lathe ix.fZ,paid for vj. pennye naiylles ij.<i;
1576, spent at ^Ir. Sewelles of the company about the pavynge of
the pajen house vi. d, payd for the pavynge of the pagen house
xxij. d, payd for a lode of pybeles xij. d, for a lode sande vj. d; 15
1586, item paide to James Bradshawe for mendynge the pageant-
howse doores iiij. (/, item to Cliristofer Bume for a key and set-
tynge on the locke on the doore v. d^ item paide to Baylyffe
Emerson for halfe yeres rente of the pageant-howse ij. s, vj. d,
item gyven to Bryan a shannan for his good wyll of the pageante- 20
howse X. d.
The putting doicn of the pageants.^ 1580, {MS, Annals) The
pageants were again laid down.** 1584, {id,) This year the new
play of the Destruction of Jerusalem was first played.^
(40) City Accounts : Paid to Mr Smythe of Oxtord the xvth 25
daye of Aprill 1584 for his paynes for writing of the tragedye xiij
li vjs viijd. 1591,« (12) At a Council House held 19th May:
It is acjreed by the whole consent of this house that the Destruc-
tion of Jerusalem, the Conquest of the Danes, or the historie of
K[ing] E[dward] the X., at the request of the Comons of this cittie 30
shalbe plaied on the pagens on ilidsomer daye and St. Peters
1 Josephus, TIic Jewish War^ iv. 2 jj .p j^ 337-8.
^ Sh, (37, 39) says that no company whose accounts have been preserved
{smithSf cappers, drapers, and weavers) exhibited a pageant during the years
1580-3, and attributes the disco7itinnance to the inflnence of the Protestant
religion. He says, *' The good men of Coventry, who in 1574 amused Queen
Elizabeth at Kenilworth castle with their Hox Tuesday performance, com-
plained that although there was no papistry or superstition in it, yet owing
to the zeal of certain of their preachers, it had been of late laid down."
r * Sh. says that the pageants generally are here alluded to, and that ''again "
is used in conseqtience of the Hox Ttiesday shows having been put down in
1561. 1561, {MS. Annals) This year was Hox Tuesday put down ; cp. also
1575, (Id,) This year the pageants or Hox Tuesday that had been laid
down 8 years were played again.
* Sh. All of the companies (exhibiting pageants) whose records of the
period exist, performed this new one, whence it may be inferred that appli-
cation was made for a revival of the pageants, and that they were willing to
gratify the people in their favourite amusement ; also at considerable charge,
provided tnem with a new subject, free from the objections raised against
their former representations.
^ Sh, This elaborate performance was not repeated until 1591.
APPENDIX II. 93
daye next in this cittie and non other playes. And that all the
mey-poles that nowe are standing in this citie shalbe taken downe
before Whit-sonday next and non hereafter to be sett up in this
cittie. — Com, Council Book,
The Cappers* Company.
5 (42) History, Sh, speaks of a very curious book of accounts
belonging to the cappers' company which commenced in 1485. The
first charge for exhibiting their pageant occurred in 1534. (43-5)
Until 1530 they had been contributory to the girdlers* pageant.
In 1529 also by act of leet, the cappers had been authorised to
10 possess the weavers* pageant; the weavers* accounts show how-
ever that the order was not carried out. In 1531, an act of leet
associates the cappers with the card makers and sadlers in chapel
and pageant.^ The first time the cappers' company exhibited
their newly acquired pageant was in 1534, when it appears that
15 31s. 5jd. was expended in "reparacions made of the pageant and
players ger," and 30s. 4d, for rehearsals and charges of playing.
From this period until 1580 the pageant was regularly exhibited;
a pause then ensues until 1584, when in conjunction with the
sheremen and taylors, a new pageant, the Destruction of Jerusa-
20 lem, was performed. In 1591 they played once more "at the
mayors commandment.**
Contributory pageantry, (43) 1532, pay d for dyvers besynesse
aboute the cardemakers iij s xj d ; 2nd quarter, idem vij s. In
1574 and for subsequent years the cardmakers and sadlers con-
25 tributed 13s. 4d. annually to the cappers towards their pageant,
likewise the company of yralkers 6s., skinners 4s., painters and
joyners 3s. 4d.
(47) Machinery, Dresses, etc.^ Wind rope and a locker to
the wind, requiring a man sometimes three men to " tend " it ;
30 hell-mouth ; boards about the sepulchre side of the pageant ;
apple-tree ; two ledges for the pageant, two standers for the same,
charges for " setting up " the fore part of the pageant and timber
to bear the side of it. Cloak for Pilate, coat for Mary Magdalen,
coat made of buckram for the spirit of God, coat for the demon,
35 surplices or albs for the angels, gowns for the bishops, hoods and
mitres for ditto, ** roles "for the Maries, gloves, stars, diadems,
censers, our Ladies crown, the Marie's crowns, flowered, ma!l or
club for Pilate, balls for Pilate, mall or club for the demon, the
domon*8 head (or vizor), rattle, spade, two crosses, poleaxe, bow,
40 four white harness^ two streamers and pensells, thread, cord,
wire, " white incoll," nails, tenter hooks, rings, points, rushes.
The pageant, (Inventory of ornaments, jewels, goods, etc, be-
^ Sh. In JannaTy 1586, the cardmaken and sadlers eon^yed the afore-
named chapel and pageant to the mayor, aldermen, etc., and in the same
month they were re-conveyed to the cappers.
2 Sh.'8 lid.
94 APPENDIX II.
lonpiii;,' U. tlie cappers' chapel) 28 Henry VIII. (1536, 1537):
it. ij pujiont clothes of the passion ; Accounts (no (lat«), it. pd for
lyuen clothe to paynt v 8, it. pd to Horseley the paynter xzxiij b
iiijd.^
1507. In rent or li nf ijtu^U Uihnvjiwj to the cappers* company^ 5
includes ij. pawles, sixc cres&ittes, ij. streamars and the poles, ij.
hisshopes myters, Pylat'S diiblit, ij. curtaynes, Pylatea head, fyre
Maries heades, one c^ytf, Maiy Maudlyus gowne, iij. beardes, sixe
pensils, iiij. rolles, iij. Marye b<jxes, one play-boke, the giandea
head and clubljc, Pylate.- clubbc*, hell-mow th, Adams spade, Eves 10
destaffe.
(\t<) yV//y-/x//y/.<*. Pd for making of the new^ plea book vs;
1540, \y\ for the matter of the Castell of Emaus xiij d *; pd for
writynii a parte fur Ilen-e Pei-son j d.
Usual ffwpemfeii of iferformiwjJ* Dressing the pageant 6d. ; a 15
|)ei'son going with it 10 d. ; the clerk for bearing the book or
** the keei>er of the playe-lxK)k " 12 d.* ; spent at the first rehearsal,
to the players 18 d., on tlie company 7 8. 4 d. ; spent at the second
rehearsal to the players 18d,on the company 7 8.; players* sapper
2 8. ; drink to the drivers of the pageant 12 d. ; twelve (sometimes 20
eight or ten) men driving it 2 e. ; drink to the players between
the play times 13d.; jxl Pilate, the bishops and knights to drink
l>etween the ** stages *' 9 d. The annual charge for playing the
pageant was about 35 8. until 1550, afterwards 45 s. to 508,
(49) IIhn*ti'fjttre C/tarr/es. Payd for the players drynkynge at 25
the Swanne dore ij s viij d ; p'd for our supper on the play day for
ourselves, good man Mawpas, the minstrull, the dresser of the
pagent, and the somner and his wyfe iiij s ; pM for havyng the
pagent in and out xij d ; p'd for four whit harnesse xvj d ; p'd for
v dossan poyntes iiij d ; p'd for rysslies j d ; p'd for sope and 30
gres ij d. ; 1553, pd to the car])enter^ for teiidyng on the pageant
xij d ; 1554, pd the carpenter for tendyng the pageant (and some
repairs) xvj d.
Entire eutr// /(/r 1565. C(»stes and charges of the pagyande : it.
payd to Pylate iiij s, it. payd to the iiij knyghts iiij s viij d, it. 35
payd to the ij. byssliopes ij s, it. payd to God xxd, it. paide to the
sprytt of God xvj d, it. payd to the ij angelles viij d, it. payd to
the iij Mary OS ij s, it. payd to the demon xvj d, it. payd to the
mynstrell viij d, it. payd for vj dossyn of poyntes xij d, it. payd
* Upon the basin of these entries and the relatively large s^ims paid^ Sh.
C07\lecturcs that these cloths \ocre displayed on tlie vehicle, or used for covering
the lower roum at the time of representation. He points out that apaiiUing of
t fie passion would ayrce with the subject of the cappers^ pageaiit,
^ ir.P. I. 342. ^ Sh. n^w of the.
* Sh. co}iJcctuirs that the Appearance to tlie Travelers icas added to the
capjk'rs^ pageant this year, the parts of CaiapJias and Luke being f-aken by
jn^rformers fttaying other }mrt^ earlier in the jKigean*.
* Sh.'alist.
^ Sh. poiiits out that this was probably the prompter.
' Sh. says that it was not unusual to have a carpenter in attendance.
APPENDIX II. 95
for rep[a]rasyoiis of the pagyand tymber nayles and iren vij s viij d,
it. p'd for the hyer of iiij harnes and scorrynge of our haines iiij s,
it. p'd for dresynge and colorynge the bysshoppes hodes ij s, it.
p'd for makynge the hoodes and mendynge Maudlyn coate xij d,
5 it. spent at tavern xij d, it. payd for a hoke of iren xvj d, it. payd
for one whelle ij s ij d ; soni xij s x d. (50) More charges of the
pagyand : it. spent at the first rehearse at the brekefast of the
companye v s vij d, it. spent at the second reherse vj s ij d, it. payd
to the players at the second reherse iij s, it. payd at the havynge
10 out and settynge in of the pageand xij d, it. payd for dressynge
the pagiand and kepynge the wynde xij d, it. payde to the dryvers
iiij s, it. payde to the dryvers in drynke viij d, it. payde to the
players betwene the stages viij d, it. payd for the players sopper
ij s viij d, it. payd for rosshes and small corde iij d, it. payd for
15 balles xd, it. payd for iij gawnes of ale in the pagiand xij d, it.
payd to the syngers xvj d, it. payd for a pay re of gloves for Pylate
iiij d, it. payd for grece iij d, it. payd for our sopper at nyght iij s,
it. payd for furrynge of the hoodes viij s ; som xxix s x d.
Other entnes, (37) 1543, pd for a lace of jorne to compas the
20 beanie xjd; (48) 1548, rec*d. from the whittawers for the "hyer
of our pageand" 3s. id. ; (22) 1562, rec' of the fellowship for
pageant xxxij s iiij d^; (20) 1565, it. spent at the first rehearse at
the brekefast of the companye v s viij d, it. spent at the second
reherse at the brekefast of the company vjs ijd; 1584, pd the
25 dresser of the pagent; (21) (no date) payd for dressynge the pagyn ;
(no date) pd for drynkyng for the playars betwen the play tymes
xiiij d (sometimes betwen the stages), pd for drynk in the pagent,
drynkynge at the Swanne dore ij [s] viijd. (66) 1544, payde for
drynk in the pageant for the plears for bo the days viij d.^
30 Additional items concerning the pageant,^ 1562, item spent
on the craft when the overloked the pagyand ij. ^, item payd for
iiij. harneses hyrynge iij. s, item payd to the players betwene the
stages viij. d, item payd for dressynge the pagyand vj. d, item
payd for kepynge the wynd vj. d, item payd for dryvyng the
35 pagyand iiij. s, item payd to the dryvers in drynke viij. d, item
payd for balls vj d^ item payd to the mynstrell viij.cZ ; 1568, item
paid for a ledge to the scafolde vj. d, item paid for ij. ledges to
the pagiand viij. d, item paid for grett naylles vj. d, item for
makynge clene the pagiand house ij. d, item paid for washenge
40 the pagiand clothes ij. d, item for dry vinge the pagiand vij. s \].d,
item paid to the players at the second stage viij. d,
1567,^ item payd for a cloutt to the pagiand whelle ij. d,
item payd for a ponde of sope to the pagiand iij.c?, item payd
to the players at the second stage viij. d, item payd for balles
45 viij. d, item payd to the mynstrell viij. <i, item payd to Pilat for
^ Sh. No other entry of a like nature has been observed.
^ Sh. supposes from this item that the pageants were occasionally exhibited
/or two days. ^ H.-P. I. 33-40. * I. 340.
96 APPENDIX II.
bis ;{lovc8 ij. (7, item payd for assyden for Pilat head ij. d, iten^
])ayd to Jorge Loe for spekyng the prologue ij. J; 1568, item
I>aid for halles viij. d^ item paid for Pylatt gloves iiij. d, item paid
for the spekynge of the prologe ij. d, item paid for prikynge tho
Honges z\j. df item paid for makynge and coloiinge the ij. myteis 5
ij. 8, iiij. d, item i>aid for makyiige of [heUmothe new xxj d;
1571, item paid for mendynge the pagiand geyre iij. d, item paid
for a yard of bokeram xij. d, item paid for payntynge of the
demons mall and the Maris rolles vj. d^ item for makynge the
rolcH ij. dy item paid to the players att the second stage viij. d. 10
The rharaciers, Pilate, (50) Item for * * a skeane of grene silke"
to mend Pilate's cloak, and the '^mendyng" 6d.^; makyng of
Pylntts malle xxij d ^ ; A new malle xx d ; ditto ij s j d ; pd Richard.
Hall for makyng Pylates clubbe xiijd; pd for ij pounde and
halfe of woole for the same clubbe x d ; pd for mendyng of Pylatts 15
malle iij d.^ ; pd for ballcs for Pylatt iij d, lether for halles ^ d,
balls iiij il — xij d ; pd for makyng of xvj balls and for ij skyna of
lether v d ; jxl for a skyn for balls for makyng and sowyng v d ;
pd for balls and for mendyng of Pylatts cloobe iiij d; (51) p'd for
a payre of gloves for Pylate iiij d ; pM for assyden for PUat head 20
ij (I ; pM for canvas vj d and the makyng of Pylats doblet xvj d —
xxij d.
God.^ (53) There is a charge for painting inter alia the rattel,
the spade, and ij crossys, and hell mowthe and also an item of
exi)enses for boards used about the sepulchre side of the pageant. 25
Mother (tf Death, (54) /S7/. gives no information.
Fcmr Ktnfjhts, Sh, For these characters four suits of white
(or bright) armour were procured for which a regular entry of 16d.
occurs, being the sum paid for the use of them.
Spirit of God. It. payd for the spret of Gods cote ij s, it. 30
payd for the makyng of the same cote viij d, it. payd for ij yardes
and halfe off bockram to make the spirits cote ij s j d, it. payd for
makynge the same cote viij d.^
Our Lady. (55) It. paide for mendyng our ladys crowne.
T(co bishops.^ It. paide for makyng the ij byschoppes gownse 35
xxj d, it. p'd for furrying the sayd gownse ij s iiij d, it. payd to
Mr Warynge for the rest of the bysshoppes gownse vij d, it. an
ell of bockram for one of the bysshoppes xiij d, it. pd for makyng
^ Sh. supposes from this that Pilate* s cloak was green,
^ Sh. (51) stntes that abmU 1790 i7i an aiUique chest loUhin the cappers'
chapel he found {together with an iron cresset and some fragments of armour)
a club or mall stuffed with woolf the covering of which was leather; the
handle^ then broken off^ had evidently been of wood,
^ Sh. There is a charge for painting the mall.
* Sh. No article of dress explicitly intended for this character appears in
the account.
^ Sh. Very many instances of painted buckram dresses occur in these
accounts.
* Sh. conjectures that the two bishops were Jewish priests, probably
Oaiaphas and Annas as in the smiths' pageant.
APPENDIX II. 97
a wiiod for on of the byschopps iiij d, it. payd for dressynge and
colorynge the bysshoppes hodes ij s, it. payd for furry hge of the
hoodes viij[d], it. paide for makynge and colorynge the ij myters
ij s iiij d, it. payd for payntyng the bisshoppes myters ; likewise a
5 charge of 6 d. " for mendyng of ij senssars."
Ttco angels. It. payd for waschyng the angells albs ij [d], (56)
it. pd for mendynge the angells surplisses and wasshyng iij d.^
The three Maries, It. p'd for mendynge Maudlyns cote iiij d,.
it. payd for skowryng of Maryes crowns j d, it. for payntynge the
10 Maries roUes iiij d, it p*d for a yard of bokeram xij d, it. p'd for
makynge the roles ij d, it. p*d for mendyng the Maries roUes ij d,
paid for mendyng the Maries heare viij d.
The demon and hell-mouth,^ It. payde for mendynge ih&
devells cote and makyng the devells heade iiij s vj d, it. payd to
15 Harry e Benett for mendynge the demons cote and makyng the
head v s, it. pd for making the demons head xviij d, it. payd for
a yard of canvas for the devells malle and* for makyng viijd, it.
payd for payntyng the devells clubbe (several entries). (67) Sh,
" selects " the following entries referring to hell-mouth : It. p'd
20 for mendyng hellmowthe ij d, it. paycl for payntyng of hell*
mought iij d, it. payd for makynge of hell-mothe new xxj d, it.
paide to Horaley {inter alia) for pentyng hell-mowthe.
Deadman. Entries in 1574 and 1576 only.^
Prologue,^ It. p*d for the spekynge of the prologe ij d, it. paid
25 to Jorge Loe for spekynge the prologue ij d; in 1573 4 d. is paid for
speaking the preface, and the same sum in 1574 for the prologue.
Singers and minstrels,^ Sh. (48) A customary charge is " paid
to the miustrell " usually 8d. There also occur these items : " for
makinge the songe " and " for prikynge the songes xvj d." It. p'd
30 to the singyngmen xvj d, it. p'd to the singers and makyng the
songe ijs iiijd.
Miscellaneous entries, (64) It. p'd for vj payr of gloves iij s iiij d,
it. a staf for a polax ij d, it. payd for mendynge of the bowe iij d., it.
p'd for halfe a yard of rede sea vj d ; (46) it. pd for a pece of tymber
35 for an apeltrie ij s iij d, it. pd for ij cloutes, a clamp and other yron
work about the apeltre xij d^ ; (16) mendyng the players reparell.
1569, payd Thomas Nyclys for prikinge the songes xij d.
^ Sh. suggests that **ij starrs" 12d. and **a dyadem," 4d. (sic) he appro-
priated to these characters,
^ Sh, This character (the .demon) was furnished with a vizor or mask,
and a club made of buckram and painted.
' Sh. suggests that it vkls a person delivered from, hell.
* Sh. Preface or more frequently prologue.
' Sh. Singers and singing men is an article of regular entry after the
term ''minstrell" is discontinued. 6d. and 8d. was the accustomed fee to.
the minstrelL
* Sh, Adam and Eve, though not particularized in the list of performers
in the cappers' pageant (in consequence probably of these parts being taken
by persons who had played other characters in an earlier portion of the
pageant) were nevertheless indispensable requisites, and the introduction of
this appropriate and distinguishing symbol is thus readily accounted for.
C. C. PLAYS. H
98 APPENDIX II.
77ie lX'4tniction of Jerusalem. Sh. gives the following as sn
exact copy of the entry for the pageant of the Destruction of
Jerusalem in 1584, when the cappers were at joint expense with
the shearmen and taylors :
1584. Paymentes for oar partes for the pagyn and acte : Payd 5
for fy ve reherses v s ; spente at the same reherses xx s ; spente at
Thomas Kobynsons bytymes at the appointing off thinges xd;
paide for our |>arted at the settinge and drivinge of the pagyn and
skaffoldes ij s vj d ; i)ayd for dressynge the pagyn vj d ; paide
towards the hyrc of a drum xij d ; payde for playinge of the same 10
drum iij d ; payde for mendynge of the skaffolds vij d ; payde for
iij beardes i j s v j d ; \mde sixe musicissions ; payd for the hyre of
a trumpet vj d ; |xiyd for mendynge of the players reparrell vj d ;
paide towardes the ]>layer8 breakfast and drynke in the pagyn and
a-nyght^ when tho had played vs vjd; paide for more^ ale that 15
Mas droncke at the settinge in of the pagyn and skaffolds iiij d ;
payde for makinge in of oure pagyn dores and small cordes iiij d ;
(65) payde for oure suppers and the iiij masters of the sharmen and
tayllers and the clarkes and sumners iiij s ; the some is xxviij s ix d.
Paymoutcs to the players : Payde to Owton vs, payde to Thomas 20
Symcoxe v s, jmyde to the barber iij s vj d, payde to the butler
iij s vj d, payde to Hollande iij s vj d, paide Xpoffere TayUer ij s x d,
payde to Hawkes xvj d, payde to Mathewe ij s iiij d, payde to
Hawmon xvj d, payde to Sir Myles sonne xvj, payde to Holbage
xvj d, payde to Jhon Shewels man viij d, payde to the captaynes 25
lackies xij d, payde to xij souldyars to were red cotes ij s, payde
for iij garlande made of bayes vj d, payde for the temple xij d,
payde to Jhon Grene for raakynge the booke vs^; payde for the
kepyngo tlie boke xij d ; the some is xliiij s ij d ; the some of our
parte is xxij s j d. 30
Last records. 1591, payd to Thomas Massey towards the
playes xxs,* In 1589, the company had sold the lead and tile
off their pageant house; in 1596, **furrs of players gowns" were
sold for 14 d., also rd of Ric. Dabson for byshopps hodds viij s.^
TJie pageant-house, Sh, mentions numerous items for repair- 35
ing the pageant-house and for securing the doors, and states that
it was situated in Mill-lane.
Drapers* Company.^
TJie Pageant-house. In 1392-3 (16 Richard IL), a tenement in
Little Park street {Cartvlary of St. Mary's, leaf 85 b) is described
^ Sh. anyght. '^ Sh. more ffor.
* Sh. He fiurnished copies of the play to the smiths* and mercers' com-
panies on the same tenns.
* Sh. says that the cappers lent their pa^eaTU, dresses , and other apparatus^
contracting with Massey for the exhibition.
5 Sh, says (66) this is the last trace of the pageant history of the cappers*
company. « ^^^ The oldest booK of accounts of this company
now to be found commences in 1534.
APPENDIX 11. 99
as inter ^enementum ^riorum et canventtis ex paite una et domum
pro le pagent pannarnm Goventre ex aliexa,^
In 1520, the Trinity Guild sold to this company timber ".to
make their pageant*' value Ts. 7d. ; 1534, an entry occurs in their
5 accounts of 4s. received for the rent of " the old pagent howse/*
the new one being also mentioned in the same account. The
orders and rules of the company "gathered owt off oulld and
anssyent boukes" in 1534 contain an order that the masters shall
" se the prossecyon kept on Corpus Cristy daye, the pageond and
10 play well broughte forth with hamessyng of men and the watche
kept at Mydsomer on Seynt Peters nyght with oder and good
custumes usyd in old tyme to the lawde and prays of God and
the worschypp of thys cytte" (160).
Characters.'^ God, two demons, three white (sometimes saved)
15 souls, three black (sometimes damned) souls, (67) two spirits, four
angels, three patriarchs, two worms of conscience, prologue, two
clarks for singing, one to sing the basse, Pharisee.
Machinery y^ etc. Hell-mouth — a fire kept at it ; windlass and
three fathom of cord ; earthquake, barreU for the same, a pillar
20 for the words of the barrel painted ; three worlds painted and a
piece that bears them ; a link to set the world on fire ^ ^ pulpits
for the angels ; cross, rosin, a ladder.
Dresses,^ God's coat of leather, red sendal for God ; demon's
head (or vizor) ; coats, hose, and points for the demon i coats for
25 the white and black souls, hose and points for them ; suit for
angels — gold skins, wings for angels ; three cheverels and a
beard ; four diadems ; black, red, and yellow buckram ; hair 3 lb,
for the demon's coat and hose ; hat for the Pharisee.
Mtisic, etc.^ Trumpets, organ, regalls. 1566, payd to Thomas
30 I^ycles for settyng a songe xij d.
Play-books. 1557, paid to Eobart Crowe for makyng of the
boke for the paggen xx s.
Pageant. 1540, it. for mendyng the bateling yn the toppe of
the pagent viy d ; 1567, payd for carvyng bords and crest for the
35 toppe of the padgen iij s; (68) 1561, pageant driven by ten men
who received 2s. 6d.
Miscellaneous items (77). 1538, p'd to hym that drove the
pagent ijd, it. for pakke thrydde and sope ijd ob ; 1556, payd for
nayllys, ressys and rosyn vj d ; 1557, payd to the plears when the
40 fyrste paggen was pleyd to drynke ij s ; 1569, payd for alle at
the Swanne dore ij s.
The charges of performing vary from 21s. to £4 8s. 6d.
Payments to Performers.^ 1538, it. payd to hym that
^ Sh. It may be remnrked that this is the first instance of pageants in
Coventry that has been discovered. ^ Sharp's list.
^' Sh. The worlds were provided annually, and the number three seems to
indicate that the performance was limited to as many representations on
Corpus Christi day.
* Sh. The character of God commences the list in payments to performers.
100 APPENDIX II.
playeth goddes parte iij s iiij d, it payd to iiij angeles xvj d, it.
payd to iij patriarches xij d, it. payd to iij white soules xviijd,.
it. payd to iij blakke souls ij s, it. payd to ij demons iij s, it. payd
for kepyng the wynde vj d ; 1556, it. payd to God iij s iiij d, it.
payd to ij demons iijs, it. payd to iij whyte sollys (1565, savyd 5
sowles) vs, it. payd to iij blake sollys (1565, dampnyd sowles) vs,
it. to ij spryttys xvj d, it. payd for the prolouge viij d, it. payd to
iiij angellys ij s, it. payd to iij pattryarkys xviij d, it. payd to
ij clarkys for syngyng ij s, it. payd to the trompyttar iij s iiij d
(afterwards 5 s.), it. payd for playng on the reygalles vj d ; 1567, 10
it. payde to Jhon to synge the basse iiij d ; 1566, it. payd 4k) the
pageant players for their songs iiij d; 1560, it. payd to Robert
Cro for pleayng God iijs iiijd; 1561, it. payd for playeing of
the protestacyon viij d, it. payd to ij wormes of conscience xvj d ;
1562, it. payd to ij wormes of conscyence xvj d ; 1569, pd for alle 15
when thei (the players) drese them iiij d.
(69) The characters. God. 1556, payde for vij skynnes^
for Godys cote {inter alia) ; 1557, paid for s^ peyre of gloves
for God ij d ; 1562, payd for a cote for God and for a payre
of gloves iijs; 1565, p'd for iij yards of redde sendall for 20
God XX d.
Demons, 1536, it. for mendyng the demones heed vj d ; 1540,
it. for pe3mtyng and makyng new ij damons beds {inter cAia) ;
1556, payd for a demons face ij s ; 1560, payd to Cro for mend-
yng the de veils cottes xxd; 1568, payd for makyng the devells 25
hose viij d, payd for poynts for the demon {inter alia), payd for
canvas for one of the devells hose xj d, payd for malgrng the ij
devells facys x s, payd for makyng a payre of hose with heare
xxij d, paid for iij li. of heare ij s vj d ; 1572, it. pd for ij pound
of heare for the demons cotts and hose and mendyng. 30
White and black souls, (70) 1536, for mendyng the white
and the blake soules cotes viij d ; 1537, it. for v elnes of canvas
for shyrts and hose for the blakke soules at v d the elne ij s j d, it.
for coloryng and makyng the same cots ix d, it. for makyng and
mendynge of the blakke soules hose vj d, it. for a payre of newe 35
hose and mendyng of olde for the whyte soules xviij d ; 1543, it.
p'd for the mendyng of the whytt soils kotts with the ij skyns
that went to them xvj d ; 1553, payde for a dossyne of skyns for
the sollys cottys iiij s vj d, p'd for makyng the sollys cottys iij s ;
1556, p'd for canvas for the sollys cottys xix ellys xiiij s iij d, 40
p*d for ix elys of canvas made yellow xij d, pd for x elys of canvas
made blacke xd, payd for ij pessys of yallow bokeram vij s vj d,
payd for iiij yards of rede bokaram ij s viij d, payd for makyng
the sollys cotts vj s viij d, p'd for blakyng the sollys fassys
{inter alia) ; 1565, p'd for ix yards and a halfe of bukram for 45
the sowles coates vijs; 1566, p'd for the poynts for the souls
{inter alia); 1567, p*d for iij elnes of yelloo canvas ij s xd,
^ Sh, refers to smiths' accounts^ pp. 85-6.
APPENDIX II. 101
it. for collering the soUes cotts yellow xvjd, -p*d for a solles
cote xij d.i
(71) Tioo spirits.^ 1556, payd for iij elys of lynyne cloth for
the playars gownys iij s viij d, payd for makyng of iij gownys and
5 a cotte vj s.^
Four angels. 1538, it. for makyng an angells scytte xij d ;
1540, it. for peyntyng and makyng new iiij peire of angells
wyngs {inter alia) ; 1556, payd for iiij pere of angyllys wyngys
ij s viij d ; payd for iiij dyadymes ij s vij d, payd for vj goldyn
10 skynnes ; 1565, payd for iiij yards of boorde to make pulpy tts for
the angells viij d, payd for a pece of wode to make feete for them
iiij d, payd to the carpenters for makyng ij pulpytts etc. iiij s.*
(72) Three patriarchs. 1556, payd for iij cheflferellys and a
berde of here iij s x d.^
15 Two worms of conscience. Introduced in 1561.®
Frologite.'^ 1561 (only), it. payd for playeing of the protesta-
cyon viij d.®
Pharisee. 1562, it. payde Robert Croo for a hat for the
Pharysye vij d.^
20 Machinery f etc. Windlace. 1538, it. for mendyng a rope to
the pagent thre fedom longe vd ; 1543, payd for a new roppe for
the wynd xviij d ; 1556, payd for dryvyng of the pagand kepyng
the wynde iiij s; (73) 1568, payd for a cord for the wynde ij s
vj d, payd for mendyng the wynde ij d.
25 Sell-mouth (61). 1537, it. paide for payntyng and makyng
newe hell-hede xijd; 1538, it. payd for mendyng of hell-hede
vj d ; 1542, payde for makyng helle-hede viij s ij d ; 1554, it. payd
for payntyng hell-hede newe xxd ; 1556, payde for kepynge hell-
hede viijd; 1557, it. payd for kepyng of fyer at hell-mothe
30 iiij d ; 1565, p'd to Jhon Huyt for payntyng of hell-mowthe xvj d ;
1567, p'd for nlakyng hell-mowth and cloth for hyt iiij s.
^ Sh. sttggests that the damned souls wore a parti-coloiired dress which
represented flames.
^ Sh. says that the two spirits were first introduced in 1666 in which year
many new dresses and properties were cu^quired.
* Sh. assigns these entries to the two spirits because of the linen nuUerial.
* Sh. appropriates for general reasons the diadems and the six golden skins
to the angels ; the latter item he says immediately follows the former in the
original entry. Sh. (77). In 1566, Aug. 17, Queen Elizabeth visited
Coventry; on which occasion the drapers' pageant stood at the cross ; it
appears from their accounts that pulpits for the angels and other special
preparations were made for that exnibition.
* This also is Sh.'s assignment. .
* Sh. There is no entry of dress or apparatus that can be applied to them.
^ Sh, This was amongst the additions made in 1666.
8 Sh. This might probably (as well as the prologue, for both were intro^
duced subsequently to the Reformation,) be spoken for the purpose of pro-
testvng against any papistical notions, notwithstanding they played the
pageant as it had been accustomed. ,
* Sh. In the payments to performers no such character appears, ana
besides, the above there is only one other notice of it.
102 APPENDIX II.
Earthquake} 1556, payd for the baryll for the yerthequake
{inter alia), payd for the pyllar for the wordys of the baryll iij s
iiij d, payd for payntyng the pyllur {inter alia); 1557, payd for
kepyng the baryll {inter alia), it. payd for tyntyng the yerthe-
quake iiij ; 1556, payd for keveryng the erthequake to porter ij s. 6
Three worlds, 1556, payd to Crowe for makyng of iij worldys
ij s, payd him more for same iij s viij d ; 1560, paid to him for the
worlds 3s. 8d.; (74) 1558, payd for iij worldys iij s viijd, payd
for payntyng of the worldys {inter alia), payd for settyng the
world of fyer vd, payd for kepyng fyre {intei* alia), 10
Cross, 1537, it. for makyng of the crosse and coloryng yt ij d.
Ladder, 1557, payd for a larthar iiijd; 1566, payde for
fetchyng and kepyng the ladder ij d.
Music. 1538, it. payd for mendyng the trumpetts vij d ; 1557,
it. to the trumppeter iij s iiij d, payd for fechyng a pere of horgens 15
and the carrege of them whoume ij s ; 1558, p'd for beryng of the
orgens vjd; 1556, it. payd for playng on the reygalles vjd;
1565, it. payd to James Huyt for the rygalls xij d.
Extra entry 1572. Sh, After the usual entry of particulars of
the pageant charges for 1572 occurs the following : The chargys 20
of iiij new gownes and iiij surplesses ; payd to Wyllm Walden for
stufe xliiij s j d, payd to John Grene for canvas Ij s iiij d, payd to
John Gosnell for furryng the gowns xx s, payd for makyng the
gownes X s, payd for makyng the surplesses xvj d, payd for wryt-
tynge the booke x s ; sma vj li xvj s ix d.^ 25
Destruction of Jerusalem. 1584, cost of £6 4s. 9d.^
Last entries, 1591, payd Thomas Massye* for the pagent
xls, payd for corde and horssyng the pagen vj d,^ 1595, Reed,
for the hyer of our players clokes with other such stufe iiij s.
Mercers' Pageant.®
(77) 1579, Charges of the pagante: Paide for olde ordinarye 30
tjharges aboute the pagante for plaieres wages and all other thinges
the some of iij li vij s viij d.
^ Sh. The representation of an earthquake was first introduced in 1556 ;
all the items are given.
2 Sh. suggeststhat this may have been a supplenientary pageant, hut inclines
io think it a play performed before the company at their dinner.
^ Sh. Not particularized, only a general entry.
^ Sh. Massye seems to have been a general contractor for managing the
pageants that year ; the cappers and mercers as well as the drapers agreed
with him. It will be seen by referring to the accounts of 1584 that he
furnished the " temple & beards " to the smiths' company, and probably did
the like as* to the " temple " for the cappers. He was certainly paid 16d. for
services toward the mercers* pageant in 1584.
^ Sh. One instance only occurs of horses in the drapers* pageant, viz.
1591, the very last time of their performing (20).
® The oldest account book of the mercers' company now remaining com-
mances in 1579, the last year of a regular performance of the pageants.
APPENDIX II. 103
Trinity Guild accounts. 1473 (13 Edward IV.), R Joh'e
Tmmpton et Thoma Colyns custodihus de mercers pro redditu de
pagent house lijs vj d.^ MS, annals. 1525, The mercers' pageant
gallantly trimmed stood in the Cross Cheaping this year, when
5 the Lady Mary came to Coventry.
(78) Destruction of Jerusalem.^ 1584, Charges of the pagante
and the playe^ : Pd for hieringe apparell for the playeres and for
carrig xxxiij s, p'd for makinge ij greene cloks x s ij d, p'd Green
for the playe booke v s, p'd for mendynge the skaffolde iiij s
10 iiij d, p*d Digbyn for dromminge vijs, p'd iij boyes that plaied
xvj d, p'd for mussike v s iiij d — ^p'd the trumppeter iij s iiij d —
viijs viijd, p'd the painter iijs, p'd 12 souldiours iiijs iiijd —
p'd a standard bearer xij d — v s iiij d, p'd for drivinge the pagante
and skaffolds v s iiij d, p'd for settinge up the pagant viij d* One
15 performer received 6s. 8d.; others 5s., 4s., and 3s. each.
1588, "pagante stufe" sold to the amount of 59s. 8d.; the
only article specified " a copper chayne " produced 2s. 4d.
1591, p'd Thomas Masseye towards plainge the pagants
xxxuj s iiij d.*
20 Pinners' and Needlers', Tilers', and Coopers' Pageant.^
Ha7'l. MSS. 6466, the Tilers* Book of Rules and Orders,
copied by H. Wanley.
(79) 1453 (Rich. Wood Mayor). Also yt ys ordeynyd bye a
general counsel of all the crafte and craftes® that the wryghtes craft
of Coventre schall paye to the pageant x s uppon Whytsonday or
else by Corpus Christi daye uppon the payne of xx s halfe to the
25 mayor and halfe to the crafte and by cause they to haue no more
to do wythe the pageant but payeyng there x s. — ^f. 5.
Be hyt knone to all men be thys writeng in the tyme of
Ei chard Jacksson then beyng meire of Coventre be a wolle concell
^ Sh. a like payment occurs so late as 1516.
^ Sh. gives the sum of the expenditure as £S 9s. 6d. to which the
girdlers contributed 528. 2d.
* Sh. speaks of these charges as a selection from the entry.
* Sh. suggests that this was contributed in aid of a pageant exhibited by
some other company.
* Sh. (78) The rules and orders of the company of pynners and nedelers,
agreed upon 2 Henry V. (1414) before Laurence Cook then mayor of
Coventry and others, ** evermore for to stonden and to lasten," recite iiUer
alittf that the said craft are to bear the charges and reparations of ''her
pagent callyd the takyng down of God fro the cros for evermore amongs
hem ;" and to eschew faults and mischiefs of false men of the same craft,
they agree that they shtJl be clothed in one liveiy against Corpus Chrisii
day, from year to year, and ride on that day with the mayor and bailiffs,
"all in asute in worshep of the citee on pain of 2s. each, and every member
of the company who intends having a livery against Corpus Christi feast, to
bring 40d. to the master on the 25th of March, and the remainder when
he fetches his livery, and if he has an hood, then to bring 6d. more on the
25th of March and the remainder when he takes his livery.
* MS. and also that.
104 AFPKNDIX II.
made at a let that all the tylle-makers of Stoke schall pay to crafts
of pinnars, tyllars, and cappars of Coventre every yere,^ 8d a man,'
how many so euer ^ be, and hyt to be payd apone Corpus Christi
day, apone the pene of 20 s halfE to the mere and halffe to the
crafte and thys ordeynd* and grauntyd in the tyme of Rycherd 5
Cokke then beyng merre of Coventre, tyn beyng kepper of the
seyd crafts Thomas Thenell, John More ; Henry [ ], wittenes
therof. — f. 6.
1501 (R'd Jackson mayor). Also yt is ordeynd and agred by
the wholl body of the craft of the bowyers^ and fletchers of the 10
citie of Coventre in this behalfe and by ther on will that what
stranger that is mad brother to them after ther ordonaunce afor-
seid, that 6s 8d of his brotherhode to remayn to the cost and repara-
cion of the pagent of the pynners, tyllers, and coupers of Coventre
in payne of 20s halfe to the maire and halfe to the crafte. — f. 7. 15
Also hit is ordeynd and agred by the woll body of the craft of
bowyers & fletchers of Coventre in the tyme of John Duddesbury
beynge meyre of the citie of Coventre and by the wholl councell ^
of the same at Estur lett ther holden, that the keperis of the craft "
aforseid shall pay to the maisters of the pynners, tyllers, and cowperis 20
of Coventre for the yere beyng, and to ther successours for ever
yerely, the 12*^ day aftur the fest of Corpus Christi 3s 4d, apone
the pene of 20 s half to the meyre and halfe to the craft of pynners,
tyllers, and cowpers a-for-seid ; and mor-over the wholl body of the
craft of pynners, and tyllers, and coupers of Coventre graunteth that 25
the wholl body of the craft of bowyers and fletchers of Coventre
be at ther liberte not to come amonge them, nother to weddyngs,
nor byrryngs, nor to wache, nor to no other costom, but be at
ther liberte for ever. — f. 7.
1502. Also hit is ordeyned and a-grede by the wholl body of 30
the craft of the tylmakers of Stoke in the tyme of Eichard Jack-
son beynge meyre of the cittie of Coventre and be the wholl
councell of the same at Estur lett then holden, that the maisters
for the yere beyng of the tyl-makers shall pay to the craft of the
pynners, tylers, and cowpers at Coventre and to ther successours for 35
ever 5 s, ther to be delyverd to the maisters of the craft for the
yere beynge apon Corpus Christi daye, appon the peyn of 20 s,
halfe to the meyre and halfe to the craft, and this ordinance was
confermyde afor master Richard Cooke in hys meyralte and afor
other of his worshippfull brethurun. — f. 8. 40
1504 (John Duddersbury mayor). Also hit is ordeynde and
a-grede by the wol body of the craft of the tylmakers of Stoke by
ther one will that what stranger that is made brother with them
after ther ordinaunce, that 6s. 8d. of his brotherhode to remayn
to the cost and reperacion of the payant of the pynners, and ^^
^ MS. herre. ^ jjf^^ j^ qu©^ s j^g^ mouey to every.
^ MS. orffyn. * MS. err. Cottyers, Tiere and throughout ; so Sh.
APPENDIX II. 105
tyllers, and coupers of Coven tre in payne of 20 s, halfe to the
major and halfe to the crafte. — f. 8,
Carpenters contributory, 1448, it, solutum ad le pinneros pro-
le pagent x s. 1461, payd to pynners and tylers for the pagent x s.
5 Similar regular entries occur in their Book of Accounts now in the
Muniment-room in St. Mary's Hall.
Tanners' Pageant.^
1517. Sh. (80) Wm. Pisford of Coventry by a will dated this^
year gives to the tanners' company his scarlet gown and his
crimson gown to make use of at the time of their plays. Also to-
10 the craft of tanners and to every other craft finding priest or
pageant, to the augmentation of the service of God and upholding
of the laudable custom of the city 3s. 4d. each.
Other Pageants.
Other pageants considered by Sh, (80-2) are :
Girdlers^ Pageant. No information except that derived from
15 the Leet Book.
Whittaioers* Pageant. 1548, the cappers "receved of the-
crafte of the whittawers for the hyer of our pageand iij s iiij d.'^
The butchers were contributory and Sh. gives these entries from
their account book : 1562, paid to the whittawers towards theyr
20 pagand xiij s xiij d,^ 1591, it. pd at Mr Mayors commaundement
towards the pageants xxij s iiij d.
Painters' Pageant. The authority for supposing that the
painters had a pageant is the order of leet 1526 requiring the
carvers to contribute 12d. each to the painters' pageant. But in
25 1532 another order commands the painters to contribute 4s. yearly
to the girdlers. The 1526 order refers to the cardmakers' pageant
in which the painters were associated.
Cardmakers* Pageant. Various orders of leet are the only
records preserved. In 1537 their pageant passed into the hands
30 of the cappers.
Shearmen and Taylors' Pageant, Sh. (66) A deed 19 Hen.-
VII. (1503) describes the pageant house belonging to the shear-
men and taylors as situated there (in Mill-lane) betwixt the pageant
houses of the pinners' and weavers' companies.^ In 1579 the
35 smiths hired a gown of the shearmen and taylors for the use of
their pageant.
^ Sh. states that the account books and other documents belonging to th&
company have been destroyed.
^ Sh. This payment was regularly made, with the exceptions of the yeara
1666, 1580-3, until 1684 when they paid 20s.
^ See also account o^ weavers^ pageant-house below.
106 appendix ii.
The Weavers' Pageant.^
1453. Also it is ordenyd that the jorneymen of the seyd crafte
«chall haue yerely vj.s viij.dJ and for that they schall have owte
the paggent and on Corpus Christi day to dryve it from place to
place ther as it schal be pleyd and then for to bryngo it ageyn into 5
the paggent howse without ony hurte nyther defawte and they for
to put the master to no more coste. — Oi^dinancea of the Company
of Weavers,^
1523, spend on Corpus Christi^ day xxijs viijd ob*; 1525,
45ame item xxx s viij d ob. 10
Entry for 1525. Expencys on Corpus Christi day : It.^ payd
for met and drynk for the players i j s x d, it. payd to Symyon
for hys wagys ij s iiij d, it. payd to Joseph xiiij d, it. payd
to Mare xd, it. payd to Sodden for Ane xd, it. payd to
Symyons dark xd, it. payd to Jhu xxd, it. payd to the angles 15
XX d, it. payd for glovys viij d, (A. 20) it, payd to the synggers
xvj d, it. payd Homon for dryving of the pagent v s iiij d,^
Under the head of receipts occurs for this year only : It. res.'^
of the masters for the pagynt money xvj s iiij d.
Subseqtient History, Sh, No other than general entries occur 20
\mtil 1541. The charges for Corpus Christi day regularly occur in
the accounts from their commencement in 1523 to 1533 inclusive ;
after which no payment is found until 1537, From 1537 the
weavers' pageant was regularly performed until 1579. 1566,
(Queen Elizabeth's visit), weavers' pageant at Much Park street 25
end.® (A 21) 1587, r.^ of John Showell for the padgant xls,
payd at James Ellidges when we sold our padgent xiij s, payd at
Pyringes when we sold the payntynge of the . . . xvj d; 1591, it.
payd to Mr. Mayor for the padgantes xxs; 1593, it. payd when
we reseved the money e for the players aparell xij d ; 1606, it. pc?. 30
at Pyringes when we hired our aparel to Thomas Masie xvj d ;
1607, it. pcZ. when we lente our players aparell ij d.
(A. 22) Players, 1544, it. pd to Symyon iij s iiij d, it. payd to
Joseph ij s iiij d, it. pd to Mare xx d, it. payd to Jhu xx d, it. payd
to Symyons dark xx d, it. payd to Ane xx d, payd to the ij angells 35
viijd, payd to the synggers xviij (1550, synggers for the pagent);
1551, it. payd to the woman for her chyld iiij d ; 1553, it. payd to
the letell cliylde iiijd. Sh, remarks that in 1523 five performers
became love-members of the weavers' company and paid on admis-
^ Sh. The most ancient account-book of the weavers' now called the
clothiers' company commences in 1523. In a footnote in which Sh, explains
thai the weavers must have had a pageant long before that, he refers to an
agreement between the masters and journeymen wherein it is stipulated that
every journeyman shall annually contribute id, ad opus de le pagent. All
referents to Sh. in the account of this pageant refer to Abbotsford Cliib
edition 183tJ (A.). ^ H.-P. 1. 339. * Sh. corpus xpi arid below.
* Sh. s, d, ob, and below, ' Sh. Itm and below,
® Sh. Four leaves are here wanting in the account-book ; so that the entry
is notyjompleted. ^ Sh. res and below. ^ A. 27. * Sh. R /^ and below.
APPENDIX II. 107
sion lOd. each: 1523, res. of Symons clarke xd, res. of Jochop
X d, res. of Our Lady x d, res. of Jfiu x d, res. of Anne x d.
Fines, 1450, r. of Hary Bowater of hys fynys beyng Symeons
clerke x d, r. of Crystover Dale playing Jfeu of hys fyne x d, r. of
5 Hew Heyns pleynge Anne for hys fyne vj d.
Pageant Dresses, 1523, it. pd for makyng of a whyt ford
prelatt for Jhe viijd; 1541, payd for a amys for Symyon ijd;
1542, payd for makyng of Symonys my tor viij d; 1543, it. payd
for hyre of the grey ames iiij d ; 1570, it. paid for the hyer of ij
10 beards to Hary Benet ijd; (A. 23) 1576, it. payd for ij beards
and a cappe vj d ; 1578, it. payd for mendyng of the two angelis
crownes ij d.
Music. 1536, payd to the mynstrell for Corpus Crysty day
and myssomer ny^ght ijs; 1554, payd to James He wet for hys
15 reyggals viijd; 1556, payd to James Hewett for playing of hys
rygols in the paygent viij d ; 1561, it. payd James Hewett for his
rygols and synggyn iij s iiij d ; 1586, payd to Mr. Goleston for
mendyng our instruments xvij d.
Play-book, 1535, it. payd for makyng of the playe-boke vs.
20 Pageant Vehicle. 1535, paid to the wryght for mendyng the
pagent iiij s ij d, payd to Ry chard Walker for a theyll vd, payd for
smale pesys of tymber v d, payd to the whylwryght for mendyng
the whyle vij d, payd for iron worke to the pagent x d (1542, xij d),
payd for gret naylys to the whells iiij d, payd for v pene nayle
25 and vj pene nayle viij d, payd for bordys to the pagent xij d ;
1542, payd to the wryght for makynge the ij lytyll whellys iijd;
1563, payd for payntyng of the vane iiijd; 1569, it. payd for
smy thy worke belongyng to our pagent xx d, it. payd for hangyng
up our pagyent doore vijd; 1570, it. paid for mendyng of a
30 prewtyse broken with the pagyent xd.
(A. 24) Sundries, 1535, payd for russys pynnys and frankyn-
sence ij d {Sh. sometimes 4d. — and soap is occasionally added) ;
1546, it. pd for rosshes and pake thread ijd (tenterhooks some-
times); 1556, it. pd for the wast of ij tapars iijd; 1558, it. pd
35 for the wast of ij tapars and insence ij d; 1570, it. paid to John
Hoppers for ij rehersys in the halle iiij d. Sh. says that charges for
rehearsals were of regular occurrence, and that ** there is good reason
to believe " that the hall here referred to was St. Nicholas' hall
which the company usually attended.
40 Specimen Entry. 1563, in primis for ij rehersys ij s, it. payd
for the dryving of the pagente vd, it. paid to Symeon iij s iiij d,
it. paid to Josephe ij s iiij d, it. paid to Jesus xx d, it paid to
Mary xx d, it. paid to Anne xx d, it. paid to Symeons clarke xx d,
it. paid to the ij angelis viij d, it. paid to the chylde iiij d, it, paid
45 for russhes packthryd and nay Is iiij d, it. paid to James Hewete
for his rygoles xx d, it. paid for syngyng xvj d, it. paid for gloves
ij s ij d, it. paide for meate in the bocherye x s ix d, it. paid for
bread and ale vij s viij d ; summe xliiij s iij d.
106 APPENDIX II.
(A. 25) Pageant house. Sh, From deeds belonging to the now
Clothiers' company it appears that, so early as 13th Hen. VI.,
1435, a parcel of land in Mill Lane, adjoining the ^ taUour paiont/'
being 30^ feet wide and 70^ long, was granted and let for 80 years
to John Hampton and 7 others, paying 3s. 8d. rent, and covenant- 5
ing to erect thereupon during that term *' unam domum vocaiur a
paiont hows " and to keep the same in good repair during the said
term. By another deed dated 12th May, 17th Hen. VL, 1439,
Kicliard Molle, weaver, and otliers, demise to Wm. Gale and Wm.
Flowter masters of the Cardmakers' company, Eichard Twig master 10
of the company of Saddlers, John Ward master of the Painters'
company, and Henry Stevons and Henry Clerk masters of the
Freemasons' company, and their successors, a void piece of ground
in Mill Lane, adjoining certain land held by the master of the
weavers, for 101 years, paying 4s. rent during the life of Thomas 15
Wutton and 2s. afterwards during the lives of the grantors,
covenanting also to keep in repair any building erected thereon.
On the 6th October 1455 the same parties convey to Eichard
Cokkes and 5 others, weavers, in fee, "a place of land, built
upon, called wevers' pagent-howse in Mill Lane," reserving Id. 26
yearly rent to the master and brethren of St. John's Hospital.
On the 10th of the same month the above-named Cokkes and
others grant a rent charge of 4s., during his life, to Thomas
Wutton, payable out of the weavers* pageant house ; and on the
6th June 1458 Cokkes and Pace release their interest in the 25
same to John Tebbes and 3 other cofeofEees. On the 18th Dec.
1466 the surviving feofees grant the pageant house to Wm. Jones
and Laur. Hyron, weavers, in fee.
(A. 26) Reixiirs^ etc., to ^xigeant house, 1531, payd for
mendyng of the pagent-howse wyndo ijs; 1537, pd for makyng 30
of a hynge to the pagent-howse dore viij d.
Neto building on the site of pageant house, 1587, r. for the
journe of the padgent house x s vj d ; paymentes for bulding of
the paygente house in the Myl Lane : Item in prymis payd at
takinge doune of the house and the tilles, for hieryng of a rope 35
and caryinge the leade to the store house, and for drynk to the
worke-men that same day ij s x d, it. payd to carpenters for ther
wages iij li iiijs iiij d, it. payd to the masones for ther wages viij s
iiij d, it. payd to the tilers for tiling and daubing xvij s viij d, it.
payd for stone and for carying of stone xij s, it. payd for sand 40
and claye v s ij d, it. payd for lyme and for heare to make mortar
ixs viijd, tiles 9s. 6d., timber 30[25]s. 8d., spars and stoods
lis. 8d,, it. payd for a hundred and halfe of bryckes ij s ij d, it.
payd at the rearyng of the house and on the nyght befor x s vj d ;
Summe is xj li xvij s x d. 45
Pageant. 1535, payd to the journeymen for dryvyng the
pagent iiij s ij d, spend between the plays vj d ; (A. 27) 1564, it.
for mendyng of the pagyon viij d, it. for payntyng of the van©
APPENDIX III, 109
iiijd, it. pd for nay Is for the pagente vd, it., paid for iij cai-te
nayls for the whells iiijd; 1566, it. payd for a whele for the
pagente iiij s, it. payd for byndyng the whele and for earte nayles
and other workemanshype that belongyth unto hym iij s iiij d, it.
5 payd for a spoke ^ for the whele xij d, it. payd for naylls and sope
and a clowte for the axetre xijd ; 1568, it. paid for greate nayles
for the pagent wheles ij s, it. payd for makyng of iij trestles and
mendyng the pagent xiiijd; 1570, it paid for makyng an exaltre
for the pagyante xij d, it, paid for a trendell for the scaffold and
10 the makyng iij d ; 1572, it. pd for a trendy 11 for the scafEoll iiij dj
1573, it. paide for mendinge the pageand x d.
(A. 27) Miscellatieotis. 1564, it. paid for settynge one of
Jhesus sleues ij d, it. paid for payntyng of Jesus heade viij d,
it. paid for solyng of Jegus hose j d, it. paid to John Dowley to
15 make oute the money for his gowne viij d ; 1566, it. payd for
mendyng of ij poleaxes viij d. :
(A. 21) Destruction of Jerusalem, 1584, item paide for
rehearses ij s, item paide at the settinge out of the pagi6n vj d,
item paide on the pagion daye for bread and drincke iij s viij d,
20 item paide for nayles and rushes vj d, item paide to John Smythe
xvj s, item paide for drivinge of the pagion v s, item paide to
Robert Baggesley for mending of the pagion vj d ; rentgatherer's
account : payd for that whych belongeth to the pagyauute xij s,
payd for nayles and mendyng of the pagyent iij d.
%peutjb III.
Pageants on Special Occasions, Extracts from the Coventry
Leet Book.
25 Reception of Queen Margaret in 1456.* Md.^ That the
Thursday next aftur the fest of seynt Bartholomewe the postyll,
the yere reynyng of Kyng Herry the sixt aftur the Conquest
xxxiiij, Richard Braytoft th&n. beyng meyre, was made assemble
yn seynt Mary Halle, of worshipfull persons, whos names
30 folowen : — {lAst of ^0 persons.)
The wheche persones aboven rehersyd then ordyned and
provyded, that thet shold a C marke be levyed by the wardes yn
Coventre, wherof L marke to be i/even to oure souerayne lady the
^ Sh. stroke. ^ ^^^i Sook, ff. 168-170 b. Sh. Diss. pp. 145^151.
3 f. 168.
110 APPENDIX III.
quene mtfl other L inarke to the piynce, at her next comyng to
Coventre.
Afturward, that ys for to sey at the fest of the Holy CroaBe
the XXXV yere of Kyng Kerry the sixt, at Coventre, L maike
was yeven to oure soverayn lady the queue ; and the xx day of 5
January then next folowyng, he the seyde meyre and his counsell,
the other L marke of the seyd C marke, was relivered to the
collectours of every warde after the rate, as hit be endentures
severally niade be-twix the seyde meyre and the collectours
apereth, savely to ke\ye to the use of the prynce, when he comes 10
to Coventre.
Md. That the demene atid rule tliat was made and shewed
un-to oure sov^rayn lady the quene, at Coventre, was thus as it
foloweth yn wrytyng ; that is for to sey, furst at Bablake there
was made a Jcsso over the yate right well [arayed], and there were 15
shewed too spechos, as foloweth :
YsAY. Prtuces most excellent, born of blode riall,^
Chosen quene of this region, conforte to all bus,
I, Ysay, replete wtt/t tJie spirite propheticall,
Wordes to your maguificens woU I say thus : ^ 20
Like as mankynde was gladdid by the birght of Jh«us,
So shall ^^is empyre joy the birthe of your bodye ;
The knyglitly curage of prtnce Edward all men shall joy to se.
Jeremy. Emprcce, quene, pn'nces excellent, in on person all iij,
I, Jeremy the prr^pliete trew, theia wordes of you wyll say : 25
This reme shall joye the blessyd tyme of yowr nativy te ;
The mellyfluo mekenes of yow>* person shall put all wo
away.
Unto the rote of Jesse ^ likken you well I may ;
The flagrante floure sprongon of you shall so encrece and spredde, 30
That all the world yn ich party shall cherisslie hym, love and
drede.
Afturward with-inne the yate at the est yende of the chirche,
was a pagent right well arayed and theiin was shewed a speche
cf seynt Edward and an-other of seynt John the EvawngeZis^, 35
as foloweth :
*S. Edward. Moder of mekenes, dame Margarete, p'inces
most excellent,
I, kyng Edward, welcu?n you w/t/i affeccion righ[t] cordiall,
Certefying to yowr highnes mekely myn entent. 40
For the wele of the kyng and you hertely pray I shall.
And for prince Edward, my gostly chylde, whom I love
pn'ncipall,
^ f. 168 b. ^ This and the preceding line inverted i» MS.
3 MS. rote of Jesse rote. * f. 169.
APPENDIX III. Ill
Praying the, John evangelist, my helpe tTieiin to be ;
On that condicion right humbly I gif this ryng to the.
John EvANG^L/sr. Holy Edward, crownyd kyng, brother in
virginyte,
5 My power playnly I wyll prefer thi wyll to amplifye.
Most excellent pn'nces of weymen mortall, yoMr bedeman wyll
I be.
I knowo yowr lyf so vertuus tha.t God is plesyd therby ;
The birth of you un-to this reme shall cause grete melody^
10 The vertu?^ voyce of prmce Edward shall dayly well encrese ;
Seynt Edward, his godfader, and I shall pray theriove dowtelesse.
Afturward the cundit yn Smythforde strete was right well
arayed and there was shewed iiij speches of iiij cardyuall vertues^
as foloweth :
15 Righ[t]wbsnbs. I, Righ[t]wesenes, that causeth treuth to be
had,
Mekely as a maydyn my langage wyll I make.
And welcuw you, princes right cherefull and glad ;
With you wyll I bo dwellyng and never you forsake.
20 Tempe/?auncb. I, Temperaunce, to plese you warly wyll wake.
And welcome you as most worthy to my power,
Besechyng youre highnes this langage to take ;
I wyll feythfully defende you from all manner daunger.
Strengh. I, Strengh the iij® vertewe, wyll playnly appere,
25 Clerely to conseyve yo yn joiir estate most riall.
And welcuw yowe, prmces, gladly wM chere ;
For to do tJiat mo we piece you, aray ws we shall.
PiJt7DBNCB. I, Prwdence, of the iiij vertewes highest in degre,
Welcum you, dame Margarete, queue crowned of this
30 lande.
The blessyd babe that ye have born, pry nee Edward is he,
Thurrowe whom pece and tranquilite shall take ^^is reme
on hand ;
We shall endowe both you and hym clerely to understonde;
35 We shall preserve you personally and never fro you disseve?%
Doute not, prmces most excellent, we iiij shall do our dever.
^ Afturward at the crosse yn the Croschepyng, there were
ordeyned diverse angels sensyng a-high on the crosse, and there
ranne out wyne at mony places a long while.
40 Afturward betwix the seyde crosse and the cundit bene^^e
that, were sette ix pagentes right well arayed and yn every
pagent was shewed a speche of the ix conqueroures j yn the furst
was shewed of Hector, as foloweth :
1 f. 169 b.
(
\\2 APPENDIX III.
I [EcrroK. Most pleA»iunt princes recotdid thai may be,
I, Hector of Troy, thai am chefe conquerour,
liowly wyll ol)oy yowe and knele on my kne.
And welcum yowe tendurly to yowr honoure
To tliis connbull cite, the princes chambur ; 5
Whome ye l«ire yn youre bosom, joy to th\a lande,
Tliro whome in pro8i>erite this empyre shall stand.
In th«' secunde ]>agent was shewed a speche of Alexander, as
foloweth :
Alei^asder, I, Alexander, that for chyvalry berith the ballc, 10
Most cura'/bwit'^ in conquest, thro the world am y-named,
Welcu7/i yowe, princes, as quene pr/ncipalL
But I hay Is you ryght hendly, I wer worthy to be blamyd ;
The noblest prince that is bom, whome fortune hath
f amy d, 1 5
Is yoMr sovereyn lorde Kerry, empej-owr and kyng ;
Unto wlioni mekely I wyll be obeying.
In the tliridde pagent was shewed of Josue as foloweth :
JosuE. I, Josue, that in Hebrewe reyn prtncipall,
To whome that all Egipte was fayn to inclyne, 20
Wyll al>ey to yoMr plesur, princes most riall,
As to the heghest lady that 1 can ymagyne.
To the plesure of your p^'rsone, I wyll put me to pyne, f
As a kuyght for his lady ]x)ldly to fight,
Yf any man of curage wold bid you unright. 25
In the fourthe pagent was shewed of David, as folio weth :
David. I, David, that in deynte^ have led all my dayes,
Tiiat slowe the lyon and Goly thorowe Goddys myght,
AVill obey to you, laily, youve p6»/*sone prayse
And wt'lcu??i you curtesly as a kynd knyght, 30
For the love of your lege lorde, Herry that hight,
And yo?^r hiudabuU lyfe that vertuus ever hath be ;
Lady most lutiy, ye be wclcum to this cite !
5 In the fyth pagent was shewed a speche of Judas, as
foloweth : 35
Judas. T, Judas, that yn Jure am callid the belle,
In knyghthode and conquest have I no pere,
Wyll obey to you, princes, elles did I not well
And tendurly welcuw you yn my manere.
Yo?^r own sovcrayn lorde and kynge is present here, 40
Whome God for his godenes p?-esorve in good helthe,
And ende you vrOfi worship to this landys welthe !
^ MS, curitia. ^ S, deyntes, MS. doyntes. ' f. 170.
APPBNDIX III. 113
In the sixt pagent was shewed a speche of Arthur,^ as
foloweth :
Arthur. I, Arthur, kynge crownyd an^ conquerbur,
That yn this lande reyned right rially ;
5 With dedes of armes I slowe the emperowr ;
The tribute of this ryche reme I made downe to ly —
Ihit unto [you], lady, obey I mekely,
As youre sure servande ; plesur to yot^r highnesse,
For the most (desaunt pn'Tzces mortal that es !
10 In the vij pagent was shewed a speche of Charles, as foloweth :
Charles. I, Charles, chefe chef tan of the reme of Frounce
And emperour of grete Home, made by eleccion.
Which put mony paynyms to pyne and penaunce ;
The holy relikes of Criste I had in possession —
15 But, lady, to yot^r highnes to cause dieu refeccion,
Worshipfully I welcum you after your magnificens ;
Yf my service mowe plese you, I wyll put to my diligence.
In the viij pagent was shewed a speche of Julius, as foloweth :
Julius. I, Julius Cesar, soverajm of knyghthode
20 And emperowr of mortall men, most hegh and myghty,
Welcuwi you, pnnces most benynge and gode ;
Of queues that byn crowned so high non knowe I.
The same blessyd blossom, that spronge of yowr body,
Shall succede me in worship, I wyll it be so ;
25 All the landis olyve shall obey hym un-to.
In the ix pagent was shewed a speche of Godf ride, as foloweth :
Godfridb. I, Godf ride of Bollayn, kynge of Jerusalem,
Weryng the thorny crowne yn worshyp of Jhe^u,
Which in battayle have no pere under the sone heme ;
30 Yhit, lady, right lowely I loute unto yowe.
So excellent a princes, stedefast and trewe,
EjQowe I none crtstened as you in your estate ;
Jheavi for hys m^rci incresse and not abate !
^ Af turward and last the cundit yn the Crossechepyng was
35 arayed right well with as mony virgyns as myght be ^A&ruppon^
and there was made a grete dragon and seynt Margaret sleyng
hym be myracull, and there was shewed full well this speche
that foloweth :
S. Margaret. Most notabull pnnces of we3rmen erthle,
40 Dame Margarete th^ chefe myrth of this empyre.
Ye be hertely welcum to this cyte.
^ SmUha* Accounts, 1455(6), Item. To have owght the pagent at the
comyng of the q uene, that ys the parell to the pagent and harneste men and
the names to [narnes] hem wyth and a cote armyr for Artare and a create
with iij grevyes, xyys xid ob. — Sh, loc. cit. p. 149. ' f. 170 b.
0. 0. PLAYS. I
114 APPENDIX III.
To the plesure of your highnes, I Mryll sette my desyie ;
Bothe nature and gentilnes dotli me lequiiOy
Seth we be both of one name, to shewe you kyndnes ;
Wherefore by my power ye shall have no distresse.
1 shall pray to the Pn'nce that is endeles 5
To socour you wtt/t solas of his high grace.
He wyll here my peticion this is doutles,
For I wrought all my lyff that his wyll wase ;
Therfore, lady, when ye be yn any dredef ull cace
Calle on me boldly, tker-oi I pray you, 10
And trist to me feythefully, I woll do that may pay yow,
Md. Payde to John Wedurby of Leyces^er for the provicion
and makyng of these premisses of the welcomyng of our soverayn
lady the queue, and for his laboure inne and out xxv a
Itm. payde for a tonne of wyne that was yeven to our 15
soverayn lorde the kynge viij li iiij d ; itm. for ij gilt cuppes, of
the which on was yeven to our soverayn lady the queue and the
other is kepte for our lorde the prince unto his comyng, the whiche
cuppes weyen xliiij oz. qrt. arid dr., pn'ce le oz. iiij s viij d, sma.
X li vij s j d, and over that, for giltyng of the fete of the seid 20
cuppes with-inne iij s, sma. tot. x li x s j d ; itm. the meyre yafe
by the avyse of his counsell to diverse persones of the kynges
house XX s ; itm. he payde for a glase of rose-water that my lord
Ry vers had ij s.
Reception of Edward IV, in 1460.^ One hundred pounds 25
and a cup was given by the city to Edward IV. " to his welcome
to his cite of Coventre from the felde yn the north." ^
Receavynge Prynce Edwarde \in \m\^ Memorandwwi. That
the XX viij. day of the moneth of April! cam oure lorde prince
Edward out of Walys so by Warrewik to Coventre and the meire 30
and his brethem y^ith the divers of cominalte of the seide citie,
clothed in grene and blewe, metyng oure seid lorde prince, upon
horsbake by-yonde the Newe Crosse, in a chare, beyng of age of
iij yere, ther welcomyng hym to his chaumber and yeyving hym
ther a C mark in a gilt coppe of xv ounces yri\h a kerchyff of 35
plesaunce upon the seid coppe ; and then comyng in-to [the] citie.
And at Babulake yate ther ordeyned a stacion, therin beyng Kyng
Richard vfith xiij other arrayed lyke as dukes, mark^ses, erles,
vicouns, and barons, and lordis -vfiih mynstrallcy of the wayts of
the cite, and Kyng Richard ther havyng this speche her folowyng : 40
^ Leet Book, f. 184 h, Sh. loc. cit. p. 151.
2 SmUM Accounts, 1460, Item for the havyng owght of the pagent, when
the pryns came, yn brede and ale, and to Samson wythe his iij knyghtys,
and to an harper iij s vj d ; it. for golde for Samsons garments and poyntys
iij d. — Sh. loc. cit. p. 162.
3 Leet Book, ff. 222, 222 b. Sh. loc. cit. pp. 152-154.
APPENDIX UI. 115
Ebx Ric^^jjdus. Welcom, full high and nobull prince, to ua
right 8peciall,
To this jQur chaumber, so called of antiquite !
The presens of jour noble person reioyseth our^ hari» all;
5 We all mowe blesse the tyme of yowr nativite.
The right lyne of the roysil blode ys now as itt schulde be ;
Wherfore God of his goodnes preserve you in bodily helth,
To us and jour tenauntes here, perpetuall ioy ; and to all londis,
welth !
10 Also at the Condite afore Eichard Bray toft the elder, a-nother
stacion YriiJi iij paftriarkes ther stondyng upon the seid Condite,
vriih Jacobus xij sonnes yrith mynstralcy of harpe and dowse*
meris, and ther rennyng wyne in on place ; and there on of the
seid patriarkes havyng this speche writtyn :
15 [Patriarch.] God most glorious ! Grounder and Gyver of
all grace !
To us iij pa^iarkes thou promysed, as scriptur maketh
rehersall.
That of our stok lynially schuld procede and passe
20 A prynce of most nobull blode and kyngs sonne imperiall ;
The wich was fuU-fylled in God. And nowe referre itt we
schall
Unto this nobull prynce that is here present,
Wich entreth to this his chaumber, as prynce full reverent.
25 Also at the Brode^ate a pagiont; and seint Edward beyng
therin wM x a-states with hym, wzt^ mynstralcy of harpe and
lute, and Kyng Edward havyng this speche next foloyng :
[Ejlng Edward.] Nobull prynce Edward, my cossyn and my
knyght,
30 And very prynce of our lyne com yn ^ dissent !
3 I, seint Edward, have pursued for yowr faders imperiall right,
Wherof he was excludid by full i\mou8 intent.
Unto this yowr chaumber, as prynce full excellent.
Ye be right welcom ; thanked be Crist of his sonde !
35 For thai that was oures is nowe in jour faders hande.
Also at the Crosse in the Croschepyng, were iij prophets stand-
yng at the crosse seynsyng, and upon the crosse a-boven, were
Childer of Issarell syngyng and castyng out whete obles and
floures, and iiij pypis rennyng wyne.
40 Also in the Croschepyng a-fore the Panyer, a pagent* and iij
Kyngs of Colen therein Yriih other divers arraied and ij knyghts
^ MS. ycmr. ^ ^g. comyn. « f. 222 b.
* This was perhaps the shearmen and taylors* pageant. Smiths* Accounts,
1474, Expen^^ for bryn^yng furth the pagent a-^/enst the comyng of the
quene avd the prince vj d. — Sh. loc. cit. 164. The sJiearmen and taylors
tfwvM have the necessary costumes for the kings.
116 APPBNDIZ ni,
armed wiVi mynstralsy of small P7pifl» and one of the Kyiigs
havyng this speche under writtyn :
[A Kino of Colognb.] O splendent Creator! In all our
specnlacion,
More bryghter then Phebus, excedent all Ijght ! 5
We thre kyngs beseche the, wtt^ meke mediacion,
Specially to pres^ve this nobuU prynce, thi knyght,
Wich by influens of thy grace procedeth a-nght.
Of on of us thre lynnyally, we fynde,
His nobull moder, queue Elizabeth, ys comyn of thai kynde. 10
Also upon the Condite in the Croschepyng, was seint
George armed ; and a kynges doughter knelyng a-fore hym with
a lambe ; and the fader and the moder, beyng in a toure a-boyen,
beholdyng seint George savyng their doughter from the dragon ;
and the Condite rennyng wyne in iiij places, and mynstralcy of 15
orgonpleyinge, and seint George havyng this speche under
wryttyn :
[Saint Gbobgb.] O myghty God ! Our all Socour celestiall !
Wich thia reyme hast geven to dower
To thi moder, and to me, George, ]>roteccion perpetually 20
Hit to defende from enimies fere and nere ;
And as this mayden defended was here,
Bi thy grace, from this dragon devour.
So, Lorde, preserve this noble prynce, and ever be his socour !
^ Reception of Prince Arthur in 1498.^ Md. That this yer the 25
Wensday the xvij day of October Anno xiiij** R. H. vij, pn'nce
Arthur, the first begoton son of kyng Henre the vij*^, then beyng
pf th^ age of xij ^ers and mor, cam first to Coventre and ther
lay in th^ pWory fro Wensday unto thQ Munday next suying, at
which tyme he removed towards London. Ayenst whos comyng 30
was th^ Sponstrete 2/ayte garnysshed with the ix worthy[s], and
kyng Arthur then havyng this spech, as f oloweth :
[King Arthur.] Hayle, prynce roiall, most amyable in sight !
Whom the Court eternall, thurgh prwdent govemaunce,
Hath chosen to be egall ons to me in myght, 35
To sprede our name, Arthur, and acts to avawhce,
And of meanys victorious to have such habundaunce.
That no fals treitowr, ne cruell tirrant.
Shall in eny wyse make profer to your lande
And rebelles all falce quarels schall eschewe, 40
Thurgh thQ fere of Pallas, that favoreth your lynage
And all outward enmyes laboreth to subdue.
To make them to do to yewe as to me dyd homage.
Welcome therfor, the solace and comfort of my olde age,
1 £_ 281 b.
2 LeetBook, flf. 281-282. ^A.'loc. cit. pp. 164-167.
JLPFSNDIX III. 117
Prince pereless, Arthur, icbme of noMe progeny,
To me and to your chamber, with alliMs hole companye !
And at the tumyng into ^^e Crosschepyng befor Mr. Thrump-
ton's durr, stode t?ie barkers paiant well appareld, in which was
5 the Queue of Fortune with dyvers other virgyns, which quene
has ^^is spech folowyng :
[QuBBN OP Fortune.] I am dame Fortune, quene called, full
expedient
To emprours ana? princes, prelats, with other moo ;
10 As Cesar, Hectot^r, and Fabius, most excellent,
Scipio, exalted Kausica, and Emilianus also,
Valerius, also Marchus, with sapient Cicero.
£ and noble men, brevely the truth to conclude all,
My favoMr verily had, as storys maketh rehersall ;
15 With-oute whom, sithen non playnly can prosper.
That in ^^is muitable lyfe ar nowe procedyng,
I am come thurgh love. Trust me intiere
To be with yewe and yours evirmor enduryng,
Prynce, most unto my pleasure of all that ar nowe reynyng;
20 Wherfor, my nowne hert and best beloved treasur.
Welcome to thia your chaumber of whom ye be inhabitur.
And the Crosse in the Croschepyng was garnysshed, and
wyne ther rennyng, and angels sensyng and syngyng, with
orgayns and other melody etc,^ . And at tJtQ Cundyt, ther was
25 seynt George kyllyng the dragon, and seynt George had this
" speche folowyng :
[Saint George.] most soveraign lorde, be divyne provision
to be
The ruler of cruell Mars and kyng insuperable !
30 Ye reioyce my corage, trustyng hit to se,
That named am George, your patron favorable ;
To whom ye are and ever shalbe so acceptable.
That in felde, or cite, wher-so-ever ye rayne
Shall I never fayle yewe, thus is my purpose playne.
35 To protect yowr magnyficence myself I shall endever.
In all thyngs that your highnes shall conceme,
Mor tenderly then I yit did ever ;
Kyng, duke, yerle, lorde, also heme,
As ye be myn assistence in processe shall leme,
40 Which thurgh yowr vertue, most amorous knyght,
I owe to yowr presence be due and very right.
^ C?iamberlain8* AccountSy made up anno 1499, It. pd. for settyng of the
SostR in th& Crofichiipyng, when th^ kyng was here, in gret ij s ; it. for takyng
own of th^ same posts a-geyn xd ; it. for pavyng in thA Cros-chepyng ther
as the posts stode, of viij yards yi^' d. — Sh, loc cit. p. 156.
118 APPBXDIX ni.
like-wyse as I //lU lady be grace I defended.
That thurgb myschaance cboaen was to dye.
Fro tbys foule ser^tent whom I sor wonded ;
So ye in distresse preserve ever woU I
Fro all parell and wyked veleny, 5
That sbuld your noble persone in eny wyse distrayn,
Which welcome ia to th'w your chamber and to me light fayn
And this balet was song at the Crosse :
Kyall prt'nce Arthur, \
Welcome newe tresur, V to thia jour cite ! 10
WiUi all our hole curj
Sitheii in vertue iler, 1
Lonle, ye have no per, > as all we may see.
Of yowr age tender ; j
Cunyng requyred, \ 15
All hath contnved, V yowr intelligence.
And so receyved — J
That Yngland, all playn, \
Maye nowe be right fayn V to their extollence.
Yewe long to remayn, J 20
Syng we therfot all ;
Aho let us call }- that he yewe defend I
To God immortall
In this breve beyng
Your astate supportyng, ]■ to jour lyfes yend ! 25
And vertue ay spredyng,
119
appenbk |0;
Fragments of another version of the Weavers^ Pageant.
[. PiiOFBTA. Ye gret astronemarris now awake,
With youre tamtts f adurs of plielossefee
Into the orrent aspecte you take,
Wherre in nevis and strangis aperid latele,
Ase towching the fracis off the wholle professe,
Afirmyng that a star schuld appere
Evin in Yseraell amongist vs here ! 7
II. PiJOPBTA. Bredur all, then be off good chere,
Those tythingis makis my hart ful light I
For we haue desirid many a yere
Of ^^at star to haue a sight,
And speschalle off that king off myght
Off whose cumyng we haue had wamyng
Be ^^e seyd star of profettis desemyng. 14
Yet furthurmore for owre lamyng,
Let us naue sum com77ienecasion
Of this seyd star be old pro^nostefying
How hyt apperud and vndur what fassion. 18
I. PisoFBTA. Aftur a wondurfull strange demonstracion
Ase be the experence prove yt I con ;
For this star be interpretacion
Singnefith the natevete of a mou ; 22
Ase the prof et [Balam] ^
Be the spret off God affirmithe well
Orreetur stella ex Jacob, et exurge homo de Tseraell. 25
He seyd of Jacob a star schuld spryng,
Wyche singnefis only this same king
Wyche amonst vs now ys cum
And ase towching the lettur folloing,
£t ipse dominahitur omni gen&racione. 30
* See Introduction, pp. xxxv, ff. * Obliterated in MS.
120 APPENDIX IV.
XL PjzoFETA. Here be your favour wold I move a questeon
Of this princis high geneloge,
Wyche oner the gentilis schuld haue domeneon,
Wliere and off what sort born be schuld be.
I. PizoFETA. Ase ye schall here right worthele
Be devin powar off a vtVgin pure,
Affirmyng the |)rofettis agenst all nature. 3T
II. Pjjopbta, Where fynd you thai in wholle scripture
Of any right awter wyche that woll mencioni
I. Pi20PBTA. Isae the profet wrytith full sure,
Ecce Virgo concepith apdretfilUum I
Balam seying of the hey vinle wysedom
A man schuld be reysid here in Yseraell,
In confirmyng the seyd questeon
Et vocatur nomen eitts JEmanevell, 45:
II. Pjjopbta. Yet to me yt ys moche marvell,
Vndur whatt sort tMt men schuld tell
Soche high mysteres before the fell,
He being but a mortall creature. 4^
I. PuoPBTA. Be Godis provedence ye ma be 6ure
The espret of God to them was sent,
And lafft to vs in wholle scripture
And them-selvis not knoyng what hit ment 5$
II. Pjjopbta. Presid be to hym wyche that espret sent
Vnto vs pore wrechis of loo symplessete.
He beying the lord owre Grod omnipotent
In this his worlds to make vs preve !
I. Pjjopbta. Did not that profett man callid Malache 58
[Sbmbon]^
With fysche, fowle, and best and euere odur thing,
Vndur man to haue there naturall curse and being. 18S
Yet owre anceant parence at the beginnyng
Through th\a dissabeydence had a grevas faU
From the abowndant blis euerlasting
^ See WCo, line 182.
APPENDIX IV. 121
Down into the vale off this mezerabull muTidall ;
Owre nature creatid be hym to be inmortall,
And now thresh syn fallin into ^ mortallete
And vtturle distroid wi^owt the gret marce 190
This ded most dolorus ofte doth me constreyne
Inwardle to sigh and bytturle to weepe,
Tyll thaX I remembur the gret comford agein
Off anceant profetis wi^^ th^ sentencis swete,
Whose fructuos sencis off profonde lamyng depe
Wyche apon anceant awteiss grondid constantle,
Off I^ae, the Sebbelis, Balam and Maleche. 197
Lord off lordis ! yff thy swet wylbe
Off thh thi infynit worke send me the tru light,
Justle to expend thia thy whole mystere,
And that I wonse ma se that only king of myght,
And thatt we ma walke in his weyis uppright
At whose cumyng ase the profettis do expres
The right ungcion off Juda schall seyse. 204
Oh Lord, f ullfyll tJi&t hy tyme off pes I
For my crokid age dravys fast apon.
Fane wold I see thatt wholle off whollenes.
Or this mortall lyff from me were gon,
Lord, remembur thy doghtur Syon,
Eeleve hir, Lord, in this hir mezere
Eeyleysche hyr groceose God off hir callamete 211
Oh Lord, at thi wyll all thing mvst be,
Yet, Lord, thy g^-oce to vs do exstend
The to serve wi^^ all vmyllete,
And wi^^ thy grace hnse rule and defende ;
Owre solis and bodeis to the we commend
Ernystle loking for thy wholle prc/mes
Owt off danger Yseraell and Jvda to reles. 218
Oh Lord, reylev owre inbesyllete
And thy only sun off lyff to us do send
Hym to reseyve with all vmyllete
Ajid off this mortall lyff thou to make amend.
^ MS. to inxnortallete.
12S APPENDIX IT.
Lord, thy powar no man ma compTebend,
Yet grant me my peytiseion to obteyne
Not to dy till //<at I tbatt solam sigbt bare seyne. 225
Ane. Ob Buffrent Semeon, with all vmylete,
Wycbe art owre gide in gostle gonemance,
With all due reyerence besecbe I tbe
Tby bumble obedient off longe contenevans
Tet bane me, Semeon, in tby remembnrrans,
Wben it scball plese tbat by Messe
Ynto Tseraell and Juda reyeylid to be. 232
Amongst tbe othur remembur me
Wycbe tbis iiij skore yeris and mote
In tbis tempull contenevalle
Tbatt lord owre Gk)d ener loking fore
Wycbe Yseraell and Juda scball restore
From dredfull bonde vnto lyberte
As well apperis be anceant profece 239
Semkon. Systur An, welct^m to me !
Youre boope rygbt hyle I do commend
Wycb wyll appere ondowtedle
When tbatt Lord the tyme doth send 243
cetera desunt.
GLOSSAEY.
™»ccompted, 74/14, rendered an
■ Muount.
MtoriB, 36/76, autliors.
■ »dioyn, 76/9, join to, unite ; pp.
, 76/22.
' afecU, 63/973, effect.
r O&rde, 28/812, afraid.
lUeonde, 19/523, alien.
■ll-m^Kht, 3/51, almiglity.
amaoid, 3/S4, amazed.
•mes, 107/g ; amye, 107/7, amice,
anesyent, 99/8, ancient, old.
sntem, 68/805 f., antbem.
apere, 64/996, for apair, impair.
Rsaye, 55/701, esBay, attempt,
aspecte, 119/3, c on eid oration, view.
aaposBchal!, 69/1163, eapccial.
Msadyn, 86/12 ; aasaden, 86/15,
etc. : aresdyke, 86/23, iirsedine,
g-gla coloured alloy,
asBOciat, 78/38, 79/3S, associated,
augent. 2I/594, prob. for and gent
(noble), or for argent (white) ;
Bmrd king wot a black-amoor.
awe, 60/887, away,
awter, 120/39, 121/196, author,
awyntyeiite, 9I/42, ancient, flag.
bayles, 72/io, bailifTs.
bayne, 22/636, ready, inclined.
befome, 2I/613, before.
bedull, 83/33, »J/i. beadle, crier (?).
berars, 84/ 10, bare.
berne, II7/38, baron,
besse, 6I/902, busy.
betake, 6S/1 137, commend, commit.
be-teyche, 4/97, commit.
be-traye, 26/738, betrayal.
bewey, 53/652, boy.
ble, 22^643, complexion.
bloo, 0O/550, blow, to take breath
bokeiam, 83/42, etc., bnokrum.
bordyng, 61/8g2, jesting, trifling.
bote,64/ioi4, 67/1103, boot, remedy,
profit.
braband, 88/2, brow-band,
brere, 46/399, brier,
brethur, 22/637, etc., brethren,
breyde, on breyde, 68/962, (open)
widely,
bronde, I7/491 ; broad, I8/497,
brand, sword,
burlettis, 86/19, padded rolls of cloth
for bead or mff,
bwey, 56/753; bweye, 61/902, boy.
byddyng, 63/965, commaDdment.
bydull, 87/13, beadle,
byrrynga, IO4/28, buryings.
Can, 25/71Q, can do,
charge, 62/940, import, value.
chasByng, 85/ 19, chasing, hunting,
cbefferellys, IOI/13, chevelnres,
wigs.
cbeverels, 84/7, for cbeTolurBB,
cbiMur, 2/zi, etc., children; man-
cliyldur, 29/841.
clarge, 6O/870, 6I/905, etc., know-
ledge, learning.
clowte, 109/6, clout, iron plate.
cofyiiB, 74/42, boxea, caaea.
colters, 84/iS, /or cotters, bolts,
comenalte, 70/i 184 ; cominalte,
114/31, commonalty.
comou, 19/542; eomen, I9/547 ;
comyn, 21/6o;, pp. come.
compromytted, 73/25, bound them-
selves mutually.
conabull, 112/5, convenient, sui[-
connfetys, 74/42, comfits, aweet-
consuett, 73/43 ! consuette, 73/32,
accustomed,
coat, 20/572, 30/873, *tc., eoaat,
cost, 4/^, way.
coterellis, 89/34, cotters, bolts.
124
cownttan, 89/43^ counter*, tiling*
ated in reckoiun^.
coyff. 94/8, coif, heiM-dreu.
can, 29/818, sort, kind,
cundeture, 37/119, condactor, guide,
cundit, lll/ii, 40, condait.
cur, 118/11, hewt.
cuttomyd, 85/] 3, accuitonud, wont
DecTjria, 6O/864, decrees.
detsode, 77/38, appear in court (?).
deformacion, 34/19, ^'''^'""'''y ^**™
to mtan form,
dame, 2O/5J8, deem, judge; pp.
2/20
dissent, 116/30^ deacent.
dowaemeria, 116/iz, dulcimers,
dreaee, 6/178, direct one's at^pe.
dreaser, 95/14, peraon who prepared
or tended the pageant
dressyng, 86/31, etc., making ready,
preparinsr.
dyght, 21/615, 43/311, etc., dight,
dyaeepyGsions, 60/869 i dyaspeci-
otiis, 69/1157, for disputiaouns,
diapu tat ions.
dyase, 88/1 1, dice, ornamental
beada (?).
E I 6O/864, 6 1/900, etc., ay I alaa !
eder, 72/14, either.
eftaones, TT/37, again, a eecond
ellne, 88/14 ; eines, IOO/32, elle.
enderes, enderes nigiit, 31/i, night
recently paet,
entermettyug, 74/6, intermeddling,
espret, I2O/51, 54, apirit
eyvin, 4/io8, qua»i ab. equal or
like.
Panea, 82/8, 84/13, «'=-i vanes,
fawchon, 84/2 ; faucbon, 86/12 ;
faychon, 86/32; fawcun, 18/
511 ('i"), etc., falcliion, eword.
fayne, 2/29, 5/145, ^''^-1 ''"'"i S^^ '>
28/816, A. gludneaa.
fedoui, lOl/ij, fathoms,
fere, in fere, 22/642, 24/700, in
company.
fet, 11/295, '"*''*'■
fetemanacipe, 65/702, footmAnahid,
action of walking,
fayraar, 55/715, fairer,
feyrayne, I4/404, feminine,
for-alaomoche, T3/i2, foraamach.
ford, 107/6, furroi
fbr-do, 27/785, undo, rain.
fOT-wBchid, 26/720, weary with
wHtcbiiiK.
for-wera, 49/518, tired out
foteinan, 57/780, tmvellor on foot
fowndatur, 3^/178, fonnder.
fraeia, 319/5. phiaaeif?).
fnite, 27/799, ^"'i'' ofcpring.
frjKlit, 30/882, freighted.
fryth. 10/290, fritb, wooded ConntiT;
a<aoc. tc. field.
fyndis, 3/79, fiend'a.
Qawdia, 48/479, gauds, jesta.
gawnes, 95/i5, gallona.
gere, 68/1129, **^- ! g*i'*S 79/4.1;
geir, 87 /q; geyre, 96/7, etc.,
gear, goods, apparel, properties.
giandes. 94/9, gianf a.
glede, 27/780, fire.
gostely, 25/716, spiritaaUy.
gradudie, 69/[ [66, graduate*.
grece, haut grece, 74/40, fat, well-
fed.
groue, 7/183, S^ns Of shudder (?).
gysae, I4/40Z, gruiae, costom.
Haft, 60/888, businesa.
bar, 28/802, harrow, dennncistioD.
bnr, 63/958, higher.
hareode, 19/521 ; barrode, 2I/614,
harie, 22/646, S. Mnneets. to. bairy,
diatreaa.
bayls, 112/13, g''^^^' aalute.
heddur, II/293, etc., hither.
Iiell-hede, IOI/26-8, hell-mouth.
hem, 72/20 ; ham, 28/817 ; hyme,
73/36, etc., them.
hendly, U2/13, gently.
bent, 29/S43, seize,
heyrynge, 88/27, ^tc-i hiring.
horgena, 102^15, organs.
by, 21/614, hie go.
byle, 122/241, highly.
higbt, 112/30, hight, is called.
byght, on bygbt, 3/74, on high.
Iiyiist, I8/514, most mighty {?).
0L08SABT. 125 ^H
hjnd, 11/297. etc., gentle, kind.
"no", 2/33, man, one.
hyndly, 7/188, kindly.
monyssion, 70/u86, monition, sum-
Ihit, 113/7, '5. yet.
moo, 57/762, etc., more.
incoU, 93/41, inkle, tape.
mote, 3/50, etc., may, must.
in-fere, 22/642, lee fere.
mowe, UI/27, etc., may.
insampull, 6/133, example.
mvndall, 39/187; mundali, I2I/187,
the worid (?).
mvao, Bl/907, eonaider, or wonder
Jeseyne, 26/765; jesen, 21/698 f.,
geaine, childbed.
myddia, 8/208; meddis, l8/soS,
midsL
JesBe, 110/15, Jesse, genealogical
tree of Chriet.
jubbnrb, 47/433, jeopard, risk
myght, I8/516, mighty.
, danger.
myttfins, I2/323, mittens, gloves.
joome, IO8/33, Journey, day's work.
myre, 25/710, myrrh.
East, 3/70, cast, fonn a purpoae,
Nar, 50/553, nearer.
katytfia, 19/535, captives.
ne, 74/21, 76/25, nor.
kerne, 27/784, vagabond, term of
Neowell, I6/474, Noel, Christmas.
contempt.
nothur, 4/io8i nodur, 67/1094,
keveryng, 102/5, covering.
neither.
knytt, 4/94, tied.
novellia, 1 2/3 3 2, 336, newa, tid-
ings.
Lacge, 36/103, language.
large, 62/938, freely.
Oblea, 116/38, obleya, little cakea of
lartliar, IO2/12, ladder.
bread.
lede, 27/789, a fame, popularity.
obskevre, I3/352, obscure.
lew, 60/873, leam.
oocupie, 75/35, fo'lo" « businesB.
leycbe, 4/99, leech, saviour.
Oder, 72/141 odur, 120/i83, other.
leygenee, 6O/879, ligeance, sUe-
uddiir, 44/362, odor, perfume.
olj-ve, 113/25, olive-
gianoe.
leyKiB,7/i3o, leagues.
lend, 7/192, remain.
onposaibull, 4/87, I3/381, impos-
sible.
link, 9a/2i, link, torch.
on-aunder, I7/491, asunder.
loggyn, U/31S, lodging.
or, 21/616, etc., ere, before.
londe, 49/520, plough furrow in
originall, 83/12; orygynall, 89/5, 7-
pasture land, Warw. pnyn.
pl ay-book.
looe, 8/214,218, hill.
loHyngere, 30/859, aarterer, de-
Page, 56/734, boy.
ceiver.
pardy, 59/832, parde, verily.
lett, 63/03, desist, forbear; pp.
parfettle, I3/380, perfectly.
62/937.
parrage, 14/395, family, descent.
pnrtiea, 25/730, parts, re^ona.
Moke, 21/607, do.
■ nules. 18/497, malice.
paynemaynea, 74/39, paiiidemaines,
^■^ markisBB, II4/38, marquises.
white bread.
^H mede, 47/440, meed, merit.
paynyms, 113/13, pagans.
pensils, 82/9 ; pensells, 93/40, pen-
^B mell, 66/1039, mil, meddle.
^H mellyflue, IIO/17, melliHuous.
eels, streamers.
H merle, 47/433, n.arl.
pipyns, 74/41, appiea.
^M mete, 74/48, meeting or a6Mmbly{7).
platt, 62/947, P'oin, clear.
^f meyne, 26/748, be diapoaed.
pooUye, 89/42, pulley.
^" meve, 2/37, move.
pottell, 9]/a2, pottle, measure.
mogbt, 7/189. might.
molde, 22/626, the earth, the ground.
postyll, 109/26, apostle.
prelalt, 107/7, a garment (?).
premises, II4/13, what has beea
stated above.
prentyse, l(n/yi,for prentice, pent-
prevB, 2/39, prove.
prikynge, 96/4, ^^1^9, setting to
probate, 37/io9, proof.
produstacion, 36/93, proteetatian,
prognoBtefying, 34/i7, U9/l7, pro-
phesying; pp. 34/39.
protOBtacyon, IOO/14, protestation,
deolaration of dissent (?),
pyle, 16/453, edifice; pal I ays, proi.
bitter reading.
pyne, 112/23, 113/'3. pain, torment.
pyrie, 8/226, guaC of wind.
pwynt, 66/1068, point; phi. 63/
972.
pwynlje, 89/44, points, laces,
pyglit, 43/320, arranged. Bet in
pytt, 12/323, put.
Quere, 9/265, choir.
quoat, 6T/1086, quest, search.
quyke, 64/1019, quick, alive.
Raygete, 86y7, rochet, garment^
worn by bishop,
recownfort, 71/ii, reoomfort.
rede sea, 97/34, cloth (?).
rede, 63/965, 966, interpret, or re-
red, 27/786; rede, 28/822; redde,
64/1013, ''ede, plan, couneel.
rehercee, T9/41; TcherBe, 85/8, etc.,
rehearsal,
reycomforde, 42/282, etc., recomfort,
give new strength to.
reygallea, lOO/io, e(e.; rygols, 107/
16, rigolle, musical instrumentB.
raygend, I2/344, region.
reygur, 63/985, rigor, violence, fury.
reyjuTiiid, 69/ii8i, adjourned,
reyleyslie, I2I/211, release,
reymeve, 44/349, remove,
reparellyd, §3/38, etc., repaired ;
pres. part. 83/29-
reryd, 73/46, raised, contributed.
reypriff, 14/385, /or reprief, reproof.
roche, 88/20, rock (?).
rysshea, 88/15; ruysahes, 89/21;
roBBhea, 95/i4; reesya, 99/3, ***->
ruabeB.
Sabett, 63/979, Sabbath,
ealuer, 62/956, bealer.
aapence, 67/1109, sapience,
scliapp, plu. (?) 26/741, shape,
Bcytte, ioi/6, S. fluit(?).
Bede, 12/345, aeed (?).
aeldall, 82/20, 86/3, settle or aeat (?).
sendal, 99/23, IOO/20, aendal, gilken
material.
sertea, 59/835, certes, in truth.
serviture, 37/i28, aervitor.
Beynayng, 115/37 ; sensyDg, 111/38^
etc., burning incense m censerB,
shevys, 87/7, aboes.
sliope, 89/31, soap.
singler, 75/i8, etc., single.
Hitb, 4/106, etc., since.
eitben, 117/f 5, etc., since, beoauae.
slop, 86/1 5, an outer garment,
eoferent, .^9/i77, sovereign; phu
Butfernlin, 2/28.
sond, 4/109; Bonde, I9/540, etc,
meaaenger; niesange.
eparis, 92/9, spere, pieces of timber.
apede, 43/31 1, make haste.
epere, I2/348, spear; cp. holy lance.
lapret, 119/24, spirit
apretia, 3/53 ; apryttys, IOO/7,
apirita.
stabliBehed, 78/8, established.
atooda, lOS/42, atuda, posts, joists.
strangis, 35/49, jib. news.
Btyde, 29/850, Btead place.
atyot, 51/576, stop.
eudere, 8'2/2o, 86/1, Budary, hand-
kerchief.
auyng, 77/29, ^^^l^9t following,
eyn, 23/651, since.
eyth, 6/178, e<c, since.
syngnefocacion, Sjzfx), signification,
manifestatioD.
Tabarde, 86/5 ; Uberd,86/9;; tabard,
tunic or mantel,
tabulia, 60/866, tables.
tane, 6O/862, taken,
taet, 31/899, explore, examine.
tent, 6I/891, heed, attend to.
theal, 84/17; theyil, 107/21, etc,
thill, shaft,
thee, 50/557, thrive, prosper,
this, 36/90, thus.
thrall, 2/32, bondage.
OLOBSARY.
127
thj'ddur, 8/231, etc., thither,
thynke, me thynke, 2O/562, etc,
methinks.
thyre-tyll, 67/1090, thereto,
till, 37/121, etc., to, unto,
toocuns, 20/559, landmarks,
toward-lovyng, 76/32, docile,
translate, 70, revised, presented
in a new form,
trayne, 6/147, treachery, deceit,
trendell, 109y9; trendyll, 109/io;
tryndyll, 84/17 1 trindle, small
wheel,
trone, in trone, 2/35, 8/63, on throne,
troo, 4/105, ^^^* ') tro, 30/883, trow,
believe,
truage, 19/5 24, tribute,
truse, 6/129; ^VS77f truss, bind
up; trwse, sb. 90/ 120.
turtill, 3/75, turtle, term of endear-
ment,
turtuls, 45/376; turtillis, 46/421,
etc,, turtledoves,
twynke, 1 8/506, wink,
tyll, 66/1064, to, unto,
tyntyng, IO2/4, attending to.
Umellete, 2O/556, humility,
untill, 63/966, unto,
unye, 76/33, unite ; pp. unyed, 75/
16, etc.
Velen, 28/8o2, villainous, servile.
verabuU, 14/394,/or venerable'(?) ;
S. valuable ; M. suggests renable.
viallis, 19/538, viols,
vpsoght, 28/809, sought out (?).
vthe, 56/751, etc., youth.
Warly, III/20, cautiously, warily,
waxun, 49/511, waxed, grown,
waynis, 30/882, wains, wagons,
wede, in wede, 26/768, costume,
wedurs, 8/209, skies (?), clouds (?).
well-awey, 69/829, welaway, alas I
wene, 68/819, ween, think,
were, I2/341, etc.; werie, 49/513;
werre, 68/793, very,
wheddur, 6O/560, whether, which
of two.
whyddur, 8/230; whedder, 21/595,
efc., whither,
where, 76/19, whereas,
whomly, 47/445, homely, rudely,
wode, 30/866, mad.
wodkoce, 47/432, woodcock,
wone, 68/1120, dwell, abide,
worthe, 6/137, betide,
wott, 66/1044, know,
wyddurde, 29/839, widowed (?), or
withered (?) ; women tfx>vid he
bending over as if old to conceal
the children they were ca/nrying.
wyle, 69/840; wyll, 67/ 1 100, wile,
allure,
wynde, 6/168; wynd, 7/200, etc.,
go.
wynd, 101/22 ; wynde, IOO/4, etc.^
windlace.
Yche, 47/437, 1,
ycheone, 6/137, each one.
yhit, 113/30, yet.
yeyre, 37/ 126, air.
yonglyng, 6I/899, youth,
yorth, 20/560; yarthe, 36/79, «*«•>
earth.
188
INDEX OF NAMES AND MATTERS.
KoTS: — ^The ehartcten in the pageants are referred to only at their first
appearances. Insignificant names of craftsmen and places, also names used
for dating, are not included at alL Names are in ordinarj spelling except
where there would be difficulty in recognising the wor(L Cap. signifies
Cappers' Accounts; Dr., Drapers'; Mer., Mercers'; Sm., Smiths'; W.,
Weavers*.
Aaron, I4/412.
Abel 2/21.
Adam, 2/30, 36/89, ^^ho.
Aginare, 26/727 ; Leg. Three Kings
gives insula Egriseula in. corm, w.
Jasper.
Ale and Wine, $u Meat and Drink.
Alexander, char, in Spec. Pag., 112/
10.
Angel, I., char, in 8TC0, 6/143 J *"
WCo, 42/293.
Angel, XL, char, in STCo, II/303;
in WCo, 43/307.
Angels: Cap., 97/7-8: Dr., 99/
15-6, 26; lOO/i, 8; 101/6-12:
STCo, 9-10.
Anna, char, in WCo, 40/2 19; Frags.,
122/226: W., IO6/14, 35, 107/2,
5,43.
Annals, see Dugdale, etc.
Annas ; Sm., 82 ; 88/35, 86/5-10.
Annunciation, The, 3-4.
Arraby, Arabia, 26/726.
Arthur, Reception of Prince, 116/
25 ff.
Arthur, char, in Spec. Pageants,
113/3, 116/3off.
As out I rodej song of shepherds,
10/277 f- 3 1
Bablake, IIO/14, II4/37.
Bakers, contrib. to Smiths, 78/14-8.
Balaam, 34/23, 42, 89/197, II9/23,
121/197.
Balthasar, king of Arabia (%isu.
Chaldea), 26/726, 26/752.
Barbers, released from Cardraakers
and contrib. to Girdlers, 80/
41-8.
Barkers, see Tanners.
Beadle; Sm., 82; 88/33, 84/ 1, 87/
13-5.
Bedlem, Bethlehem, 6/168, 178, 7/
180, 27/784, 29/833, 37/132.
Behold^ haw it is come to pass, song
in WCo, 70-1.
Bishops: Cap., 95/3, ^6/35, 97/4:
Sm., 84/3; see Caiaphas, and
Annas.
Black Souls, see Souls.
Bowyers and Fletchers, 8I/1 3 ; con-
trib. to Pinners, IO4/9-29.
Braytoft, Richard, Mayor, 73/ 17,
109/28; II6/10.
Broadgate, II5/25.
Butchers, 76/6; contrib. to Whit-
tawers, 77/4-24, 78/25-9, 105/
20-3.
Caesar, char, in Spec. Pag., II3/19 ;
117/10.
Caiaphas; Sm., 82, 88/32, 86/5-10.
Calchas, I9/521.
Caldy, Chalciea, 37/iii.
Calvary, 71/ 10.
Cappers ; accounts, 93-8 ; assoc. w.
Cardraakers, 79/7-8O/40; possess
Cardmakers' pageant, eic, 8I/16-
26 ; contrib. to Girdlers, 78/3-13 ;
history of pageant, 93/5-21; to
possess Weavers' pageant, 78/47-
79/6; contrib. crafts, 93/22-7.
Cardinal Virtues, III/12 ff.
Cardmakers; arbitration w. assoc.
crafts, 73/12 - 74/26 ; assoc. w.
Cappers, 79/7-8O/40; pageant
made over to Cappers, 8I/16-26;
pageant, IO5/28-9.
INDEX OP NAMES AND MATTERS.
129
Carpenters, assoc. w. Tilers and
Pinners, 73/3-6, IO5/3-6.
Carvers, dismissed from Carpenters
and assoc. w. Painters, 78/37-46.
Chandlers, united with Smiths, 75/
15-37.
Characters; Cap., 96/ii ff. ; Dr.,
99/14-7, 100/17 ff.; Sm., 82/1-4,
86/33 ff.
Charles, Charlemagne, char, in Spec.
Pag., 113/11.
Christ, see Jesus.
Cicero, 11 7/ 12.
Clarecus, char, in WCo, 44/331 ; W.,
IO6/15, 35, 107/1, 4, 43.
CI arks and Sumners, 98/19.
Clothing, see Dresses.
Colclow, Thomas, 83/i-i6.
Cologne, see Kings of Cologne.
Commandments, Ten, 63/959-64/
1000.
Conquerors, The Nine, III/40 ff.
Coopers, assoc. w. Tilers and Pin-
ners, 8I/27, 103/20; see Pinners.
Corvisers, 76/6 ; contrib. to Tanners,
78/19-24, 30-6.
Costumes, see Dresses.
Crafts, see Cycle.
Croo, Robert, writer of MS. of STCo,
31; of WCo, 70; 89/8, 99/31,
100/12-3, (?) 100/24, 101/18, (?)
102/6.
Cross, Dr., 102/ii; Pinners, 103,
note 5.
Cross Cheaping, 103/4, III/37, 115/
40, II6/11, 117/3, 22.
Cutlers, 72/12.
Cycle, The, xi ff.
Danes, Conquest of, 92/29.
David, 11/306, 14/396, 35/70, 36/
82, 62/930 ; char, in Spec. Pag.,
112/27.
Deadman, Cap., 97/23.
Demons, see Devils.
Destruction of Jerusalem ; Cap., 93/
19, 98; Dr., IO2/26-8; Mer., 103/
6-15; Sm., 90/33-92/2, 92/28;
W., 109/17-24; 92/23-4.
Devils; Cap., 93/39, 97/i3-8; Dr.,
99/14, 24, 28; 100/3, 5» 20-30;
Sm., 82, 83/34, 84/8, 87/17-23;
90/2, 6.
Doctor, I., char, in WCo, 6O/857.
Doctor, II., char, in WCo, 6O/864.
0. 0. PLAYS.
Doctor, III., char, in WCo, 60/
871.
Doctors' Play, 55-70.
Doves, Episode of the, 46-50.
Down from heaven^ second song of
shepherds, 32.
Drapers, Accounts, 98 ff.
Dresser; Cap., 94/27, 95/24-5, 33;
Sm., 85/12-3.
Dresses; Cap., 93/28-41, 94/6-9,
96/3-18, 97/32, 36; Dr., 99/23-8,
103/7, 8; Sm., 82, 83/38-84/9,
89/40-4, 91/8; W., 107/6-12, 109/
12-5.
Drink, see Meat and Drink.
Dugdale and the Manuscript Annals,
xix ff.
Dj'^ers, xiii, 76/5.
Earthquake, Dr., IO2/1-5.
Ebruys, see Hebrews.
Edward, Confessor, 92/30 ; char, in
Spec. Pageants, IIO/37, II5/25 ff.
Edward IV., Reception of, I14/25-7.
Edward, Prince, see Margaret, Re-
ception of Queen.
Edward, Receiving of Prince, 114/
28 ff.
Egypt, 28/820, 29/828, 31/890, 892^
898, 112/20.
Elizabeth, mother of Prince Edward,
II6/10.
Elizabeth, Queen, xxi; 92, note 3;
101, note 4; IO6/25.
Elizabeth, wife of Zacharias, 4/82.
Emanuel, 35/45, I2O/45.
Emilianus, 117/ii.
Erode, see Herod.
Eve, see Adam.
Eygyp, see Egypt.
Eyrodde, see Herod.
Fabius, 117/10.
Fines; W., IO7/3-5.
Fishmongers, 76/5, 8I/13.
Flight into Egypt, 28-9.
Fortune, Queen of, char, in Spec.
Pag., 117/3 ff.
Fragments of another Version of
Weavers' Pageant, 119-22.
French, Proclamation in, I6-17.
Fullers, see Walkers.
Gabriel, char, in STCo, 3/47 ;
WCo, 45/367.
K
m
ISO
IVDn or STAMIS AlTD MATTIBB.
Geon^e, 8., char, lo Spec. Ptgeants,
116/11 ff., 1 17/24 ff.
Girdlere' Pageant, 103« note 2, 105/
16.
(Haria in BxeeUU, 9/264 f*
Gloves, Sm., B8/26-9; Me Dresfles.
God, $ee Jeaus ; Cap., 94/56, 37, 96/
23-5 ; I>r-, ^/I4» 23, lOO/i, 4,
13, 17-20; Pinners, 103, note 5;
8m., 82, 83/32, 86/33-86/4.
Godfrey of Bouillon, char, in Spec.
Pag., 113/27.
Goly, Goliath, II2/28.
Goef ord Street, pageants to play in,
76/45-77/3, 86/1, 89/13, i?.
Greene, Kobertus, Ordinance con-
cerning, 73/7, 1 1.
Hebrews, 60/88a
Hector, char, in Spec. Pag., 112/i,
117/10.
Hell-mouth, Cap., 97/ 18-22 ; Dr.,
101/25-31.
Herod, char, in STCo, 1 7/486 ; Sm.,
82, 88/32, 84/2, 86/1 1-87/5, 9O/3,
7, 8, 26.
Hewyt, James, name written after
second song in WCo, 71, 102/i8,
107/14-6, 45-
Hiring of Pageants and Properties,
Cap., 90/31, 96/20, 32; Dr., 102/
28, 29 ; Mer. 103/7, 8 ; IO5/18-9 ;
Sm., 83/25, 26; W., IO6/31-2,
107/8-9.
Illustrative Charges, see Specimen
Entries.
Inventories of Goods, Cap., 94/5-1 1 ;
xvi-xvii.
Isaiah, char, in STCo, l/i, 34/40,
39/197 ; char, in Spec. Pag., 110/
17; 121/197.
Israel, I/9, 2/34, I6/451, I7/486, 35/
43, 73, 119/7, 25, 120/43, I22/232,
237 ; Children of, 11 6/38.
I^ae, see Isaiah.
Jesufl, 6/149, I6/462, 26/742 ; char,
in WCo, 56/742; 70/3,110/21,113/
14, 28, 33, 115/34; Sm., 84/7, 88/
27; W., IO6/15, 34, 107/4, 42,
109/12-5.
John Evangelist, char, in Spec.
Pag., 111/3.
Joiners, 93/27.
JoMph, char, in STCo, 4/ioo; in
WCo, 46/406; W.,106/13; 107/1,
43.
Joseph's Trouble about Mary, 4-6.
Joeiie, Joshua, char, in &>ec. Pag.,
112/19.
Journey to Bethlehem and Nativity,
e-11.
Journeymen; Sm., 86/26 £; W.,
72/1-6, 106/1-8, IO8/46-7.
Jubytor, Jupiter, I8/517.
Juda, 1/7, 15/424, 17/486, 36/72, 36/
84, 40/204, 121/204, 218, 122/232,
237.
Judas, 70/4; Sm., 82; 83/54, 87/
25-6, 89/41, 44, 90/1, 3, 5, 19, 27,
29-31.
Judas (Maccahaeus), char, in Spec.
Pag., 112/36.
Jure, Jewry, II2/36.
Kings of Cologne, Tlie Three, zziii
fL ; Adoration of, 24-6 ; Coming
of, 19-23; chars, in Spec. Pag.,
1 15/40 ff.
Knights; Cap., 96/27-9; &n^82;
83/34, 36, 84/4, 87/i6, 88/17.
Ladder, Dr., IO2/12-3.
Last Performance; Cap., 98/31-2;
Dr., 102/27-8; Men, IO3/18-9;
Sm., 92/6-7 ; W., IO6/28-9.
Lending of Properties; Sm., 90/4,
28; W., IO6/32.
Leyve, Levi, 36/84.
Little Park Street, xxii, 98/40.
Love members, W., IO6/38-IO7/2.
LiiUyf Udlay, song of women, 32.
Machinerv, see Miscellaneous Pro-
perties*; Cap., 93/28-41 ; Dr., 99/
18-22; 101/20 ff.; Sm., 82; 89/
9ff.
Madroke, coupled w. Magog, 1 7/490.
Magog, giant, 17/ 490.
Mahownd, Mahomet, I8/516, 28/805.
Malachi, 86/58, 39/197, I2O/58, 121/
197.
Malchus; Sm., 82; 88/35,87/28.
Managers of Pageants ; Cap., 98/
31-2; Dr., 102/27; Mer., 103/
18-9; Sm., 83/j-i6; Spec. Pag.,
114/12-4.
Manuscript and Editions, ix ff.
Marcus (Antonius), 117/ 12.
INDEX OP NAMES AND UATTSRS.
MaiKsret, Qneen, 74/28 ff.; Recep-
tion of, 109/25 ff.
Margaret, S., clisr. in 8pec. Pag.,
Mara, 117/29.
Maries ; C.ip., 83/36-7, 94/8, 9, 38.
Mary, char, in STCo, 3/51 ; in WCo,
45/383 ; W., IO6/14, 34, 107/2.
Mary, Lady, sii, 103/5-
Mary Magdalen ; Cap., 93/33, 94/8,
95/4; 97/8.
Mason a, iee Pinners.
Masaey, Thomas, see Pageant Man-
agers, and Last Performance.
Mawdycke, Thomas, name before
songs in STCo, 31 ; in WCo, 70.
Meat and Urink; Cap., 94. 95/7-17,
22-9, 35-98/14-9; Dr., 99/39-41,
100/15-6; Sm., 86/14-7, 91/9-
25: W., 106/ii-9,_ 109/19.
Melchor, Melchoir king of Aginare
(nm. Nubia), 25/727.
Mercers, Account^ 102 ff.
Miles, L, char, in STCo, 27/793.
Miles, IL, ehar. in STCo, 27/797,
Mikelpurke, tee Mucli Park.
Mill Lane, 98/37, IO8/3, 20, 34.
Minstrels, aee Music.
Miscellaneous Properties ; Cap. 93/
28-41, 94/5-11,97/32-6, 98/26-7;
Dr„ 99(38-9, 101/9-iz; Mer.,-
103/17; S"i-, 88/18-22, 89/9ff.;
91/8-26,- W., 107/31-5,109/12-6.
Moses, 6O/865, 881,61/894, 63/960,
64/997.
Mother of Deatb; Cap., 96/26.
Moving of Pageants; Cap., 86/9-) 3,
26, 34-5, 44, 98/8, 9, 15, 16; Dr.,
99/35-3, 103/13-4; Sin., 84/22-
85/6,88/12-37, lli/g, 19,27; W.,
IO6/17, 107/41, 109/21.
Much Park Street, 85)i, IO6/25.
Music ; Cap., 94/2?, 3S-9, 97/27-31,
36, 98/13; Dr., 99/16-7, 29-30;
IOO/9-12, 102/14-8, 103/10-30:
Sm., 82/24-5, fi«/32-3, 89/2-3, 90/
34-5. 91/23-4, 41-2 ; W., IU6/16,
36, 107/13-8.
Nativity, Piny of the, sxiii ff., 6-11.
Nausicaa, I17/ii.
New Gate, 86/3.
NewPkys; Cap.,9-J/iz-4; DrTl02/
19-25 ; Sm., 89-90 ; tee Destruc-
tion of Jerusalem.
Nonceose, Nuntius, cliar. in STCo,
16/475-
Oath of masters of Smiths' company,
85/20-3.
Original, tee Play-books.
Our Lady, see Mary.
Pageant ; Sm., Men about the, 85/
18-9.
Pageant Houses; Cap., 98/32-7:
Dr.i 98/40-99/6; Pinnera, 106/
36 ; Shearmen and Taylors, 105/
31-6; Sm., 92/3-4, 8-12; W.,
105/36, IO8/1-45.
Piigeant Pence ; Cap., 95/21 : Sm.,
85/24-5; W., IO6/18-9.
Pageant Vehicles; Cap., 93/42-94/
4,95,98/17; Dr., 99/33-6: Sm.,
84/io-S. 91/10, 92/3-5; W., 107/
20-30, 108/46-109/11.
Pageants, tee various compat^ies ;
Ordinance relating to, 75/10-14;
Ordinances requiring all crafts V'
down of, CbPt 93/31-4: Dr.. 102/
26-9; Sm., 92/22-4; w., 106/20-
32.
Painters, eontrib. to Girdlers, and
to Cardmakei-s, 72/29-73/2, 8I/7-
jo; 93/26; 105/24-9; see Card-
makers.
Painting of Faces ; Sm., 88/30-I.
Palmar, M.iyor, 70.
Pastor, L, char, in STCo, 7/204.
Pastor, IL, char, in STCo., 8/218.
Pastor, IIT., cliar. in STCo., 8/234.
Patriarchs; Dr., 99/i6, IOO/2, 8,
101/13-4; clifra. in Spec. Pag.,
115/11 ffi
Payments to Performers ; Cap., 94/
34-9, 98/2o^ ; Dr., 99/43-100/
16; Mer., 103/12-5; 8m., 83/31-
7, 91/28-42; W., IO6/12-16,
33-8.
Pence, see Pageant Pence.
Porfomiers, see Payments to Per-
formers.
Peter ; Sm., 82, 88/35, 8*/7, 87/26-
7, 90/1, 5.
Pharisee; Dr., 99/i7, 28, IOI/19.
Phoebus, 116/s.
Klate; Cap^ 98/33, 38, 94/?, 10,
22, 35. 98/1. 3. 11-22; Sm., 82,
132
INDEX OF NAMES AND MATTERS.
83/35, 43, 84/3, 86/14, 15, 88/
1-2.
Pilate's Son ; Sm., 82, 88/36, 43,
84/3, 5, 6, 88/3-5.
Pilate's Wife, see Procula.
Pinners and Needlers, Pageant, 103/
20 ff.
Pisford, Wm., 105/8.
Play-books; Cap., 94/12-4,98/28-9;
Dr., 99/31-2, 103/9; Sm., 89/4-8,
91/5-6,43,92/25-7; w., 107/19.
Presentation in the Temple, xxiii
ff., 39-55.
Princes, Two, see Knights.
Proclamation in French, «ee French.
Procula; Sm., 82, 88/28, 33, 87/
6-12.
Prologue, Isaiah in STCo, 1-2 ;
Simeon in WCo, 39-40; Cap.,
96/2, 4, 97/24-6; Dr., 99/16,
100/7, 14, 101/16-7.
Prophet, I., char, in STCo, I2/332 ;
in WCo, 83/1 ; Frags., 119/i.
Prophet, II., char, in STCo, I2/338 ;
in WCo, 33;i8 ; Frags., 119/8.
Prophet Play in STCo, 12-16: in
WCo, 33-9.
Prudence, char, in Spec. Pag.,
111/28.
Purification, The, see Presentation
in the Temple.
Rehearsals ; Cap., 94-5, 98/5-6 ;
Sm., 88/17-30, 91/4-5 ; W., 107/
35-9, 109/17-8.
Rejoice, rejoice, song in the Temple,
70.
Rex, I., char, in STCo, I9/540.
Rex, II., char, in STCo, 20/5 58.
Rex, III., char, in STCo, 2O/582.
Rice, Richard, Mayor, 79/30.
Richard, King, char, in Spec. Pag.,
115/1.
Richardson, D. Mathaeus, Mayor,
31.
Righteousness, char, in Spec. Pag.,
111/15.
Rychard, name written after first
song in WCo, 70.
Rules; Dr., 99/6-13; Sm., 85/26-
32,92/25-93/4; Tilers, IO8/21 ff.;
W., xi, IO6/1-8.
Sadlers, see Cardmakers ; contrib.
to Cardmakers, 72/29-73/2.
Satan, I/14.
Scaffolds; Cap., 98/8-1 1, 16; Dr.,
IO8/9 ; Sm., 84/16-21, 91/ia-2 ;
W., 109/9-10.
Scipio, 117/11.
Sebellam, Sebbelis, see Sibyl.
Selling of Pageants and Properties ;
Cap., 98/32-4; Dr., 103/16-7;
Sm., 92/3-5 ; W., IO6/29-30.
Scythe, Seth, 2/21.
Sharp, Ric, 74/36.
Shearmen and Taylors, Pageant,
1-82,90/31,105/33-8.
Shepherds' Play, 7-12.
Shoemakers, see Corvisers.
Sibyl, 39/197, 121/197.
Simeon, char, in WCo, 39/i 77 ;
Frags., 120/182; W., IO6/12, 15,
33»35, 107/1,7,8,41,43.
Singers, see Music.
Sion, see Zion.
Skinners, 76/5 5 contrib. to Card-
makers, 77/25-38 ; contrib. to
Weavers, 8I/4-7, 98/26.
Slaughter of the Innocents, 26-81.
Smiths, Accounts, 82-98 ; New
Play, 90; Peticion to be released,
72/7-23, 105/36-8.
Solomon, 1 4/396.
Songs, in STCo, 31-2; in WCo,
70-1.
Souls, White and Black, Dr., 99/
14-5, 24-5, 100/2, 3, 5, 6, 100/
29-101/2.
Special Occasions, Pageants on,
109 ff.
Specimen Entries; Cap., 94/ 15-
95/29; Sm., 83/17 ff.; W., 106/
9-19, 107/40-8.
Spirit of God, Cap., 96/30-3.
Spirits, Two; Dr., 99/15, IOO/7,
101/3-5.
Spon Street, 11 6/31.
St. Mary's Hall, 85/8, 90/i2.
St. Nicholas Hall, 85/1 1.
Stations, see Moving of Pageants.
Strength, char, in Spec. Pag., 111/
24.
Sundries, see Miscellaneous Pro-
perties.
Swan door, 95/28.
Sym, name of first Shepherd, 8/218,
222.
Syon, see Zion.
INDEX OF NAMES AND MATTERS.
133
Tanners, contrib. to Gardraakers,
77/25-38 ; Pageant of, IO5/7-13,
117/4.
Tawrus, Tarshish, 26/725, 26/751.
Temperance, char, in Spec. Pag.,
111/20.
Tilers, see Pinners ; assoc. w.
Pinners, 103/2O, 103/29-104/8,
IO4/30-IO6/2.
Tormentors, Four, Sm., 82, 84/4,
5, 88/6-16.
Trinity Guild, xvi, 99/3, 103/i.
Troy, 112/2.
Usual Expenses, see Specimen
Entries.
Valerius, 11 7/ 12.
Vehicles, see Pageant Vehicles.
Walkers, contrib. to Girdlers, 78/
3-13 ; to Weavers, 81/ 1-4, 93/
26.
Wawse, Vaus, Hill of Victory, in
Legend of Three Kings, 33/7,
37/115.
Weavers, Accounts, 106 fF. ;
Arbitration w. Journeymen, 72/
1-6 ; Journeymen to have out
Pageant, IO6/1-8, IO8/46 ; Page-
ant of, 33-71, 106/2off.; Frag-
ments of another Version, 119-22.
Wedurby, John, of Leicester, 114/
12-4.
White Souls, see Souls.
Whittawers, Pageant, 105/ 18-23.
Windlace; Cap., 95/34; Dr., 100/
3-4, 101/20-4.
Wodes, Bichard, grocer, 74/35,
85/2.
Woman, L, char, in STCo, 29/830.
Woman, IL, char, in STCo, 29/
833.
Woman, III., char, in STCo, 29/
835.
Worlds, Three ; Dr., 102/6-IO.
Worms of Conscience ; Dr., 99/ 16,
100/14-5, 101/15.
Wrights, see Pinners, 77/39-78/2,
103/24.
Yngland, England, II8/18.
Ysay, see Isaiah.
Yscraell, see Israel.
Zion, 35/67, 121/209.
B>c«*»B Cut * Son, Liiors,
English &t--^oni;tii.
Extra SerieB. LXXXVll.
au'o
lm\\i\[\i Covjjiis Chi[isti ^laiiH:
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